Thiruvananthapuram: Even as Kerala is trying to cope with recurring natural calamities blamed on environmental degradation owing to human excesses, changes in existing land rules are under scanner. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala for allegedly making amendments to the Land Assignment Rules that likely favoured the proliferation of quarries.
"This is the biggest scam Kerala has ever seen," the senior Congress leader said. He sought the release of the relevant file by the revenue minister who belongs to the CPI. Urging the government to review the decision, Chennithala also demanded a comprehensive probe into it.
As many as 119 new quarries were started in the state after the massive floods of 2018 that caused widespread destruction and claimed several lives, Chennithala pointed out.
"Even when the chief minister is saying that he would rebuild Kerala, the number of quarries just keeps increasing. There are 750 legal quarries and about 6,000 illegal quarries functioning in the state," he said.
Chennithala further alleged that a multicrore scam was behind this decision that can cause huge hazards to the environment. "It is alleged quarry owners had collected huge amounts of money. However, this matter was not taken up for discussion nor did it conduct any environmental impact study," he added.
"The rules of 1964 have been diluted to allow quarries to function on the land allotted by the government for farming and houses. The rule that stipulated no other activity is allowed in the land has been surpassed. If the geologist and the agricultural officer submit a report that the land is not suitable for farming but apt for quarrying after an inspection, the collector can give permission for mining. Just these three people can decide on where and all quarrying can be done in Kerala," he explained.
Chennithala also pointed out that despite the immediate order, a notification is yet to be issued.
"Is it due to the opposition from the CPI and the Revenue Minister? That's for the media to reveal.”
"This situation is such that anyone can start a quarry in Kerala, citing the lack of construction materials. This just cannot be allowed," Chennithala asserted.
Revenue Minister in the dark?
Chennithala alleged that the move to change the rules was made on the sly.
“Minister E P Jayarajan had presented the issue as a matter outside the agenda on March 5. The Revenue Minister (E Chandrasekharan) was kept completely in the dark over this. The same cabinet meet had decided to extend the moratorium on recollecting loans advanced to farmers. Though the order on quarries was issued within 45 hours, the moratorium order was delayed. Isn't it clear whom the government favours?" Chennithala asked.
Minister rejects allegations
However, Jayarajan, who belongs to the CPM. refuted the opposition leader’s allegations.
"The government has followed all the procedures. The allegation is wrong. The opposition leader is making baseless statements without having a clear understanding of the issue,” the minister for industries and sports added.
Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan too said that the government did not make any decision to change the land rules to give permission for quarries. "The previous UDF government had tried to change the norms. I had stopped it then," he said.
Major quarries left out of Vigilance raid?
More allegations of foul play are being raised against the authorities. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) allegedly left out the major stone quarries during the flash raids it conducted across Kerala on Thursday. The Vigilance had found large-scale irregularities and identified several illegal quarries during the Operation Hunt.
However, people living near major stone quarries have a slew of complaints against them. As these quarries have been left out, the violations continue. Nor have any of the illegal quarries been shut.
The sleuths had found that the quarry at Meluri in Malappuram district was not following any of the norms set in the licence. Another quarry at Chelakatte was not giving one per cent of the profit share to the panchayat, as per the rules. There was no warning sign for the quarry, which is situated close to the forest.
The quarry at Kondotty was also found to be illegal. The Vigilance had seized three excavators from there.
The officers also found three quarries functioning at Vethanoor in Perinthalmanna without the permission of the panchayat or the geology department.
In Kizhakkambalam, the area in which stone quarrying is done is not demarcated with a fence. A solar energy plant has not been set up even though that is required as per the norms. It also does not have any mechanism for rain harvesting nor does it have an environment monitoring cell. The mining is done at a depth of more than 10 metres.
The quarry at Arakulam in Idukki was carrying out mining at a much larger area than that was given permission.
The mining was carried out at a depth of 5 metres at Thiruvaniyoor quarry in Ernakulam. Quarries at Ayravon, Adukad and Konni in Pathanamthitta were found to be illegal. The quarry at Aruvikkara in Thiruvananthapuram was storing explosives without the fire and safety licence. It was also guilty of mining at a much large area than that was allowed.
An illegal quarry is functioning near Kattaikonam too. Mining is done even on government land (purambokku). Quarries at Muthalamada in Palakkad are illegal, while the one at Kuthanur was found to be involved in mining in a hazardous manner.
The Vigilance also seized seven files on quarries and dealers' licences from the geology office at Kottayam for further probe.
