more-in Despite frequent landslips and looming water scarcity, the attempts to open new granite quarries and crusher units are in full swing in Kodiyathur panchayat, with no heed being paid to local protests and campaigns by environmental activists. Kiliyadimala, one of the overexploited hillocks near Thottumukkam, is now the centre of such a protest where around 1,000 families are up in arms against a new project. “At least eight quarry and crusher units are now operational in ward numbers 5, 6 and 7 of Kodiyathur panchayat. The latest one has also been planned in the ecologically sensitive area that witnessed six rounds of landslips in the recent monsoon,” says Shyju Thomas, member of a newly constituted local action committee in the region. Health concerns Mr. Shyju claims that the new project has been planned near a previously shut granite quarry, which was the biggest pollutant in the area, causing breathing problems and skin allergy among people. “The risk is unimaginable and we will strongly oppose the project as the quarry operators in the area are notorious for using high power machines and breakers with no technical clearance from the authorities,” he adds. The local action committee comprising around 210 residents have submitted a petition to the Kodiyathur panchayat authorities to initiate legal measures to deny operational permit. The committee members are also planning to approach District Collector U.V. Jose with a request to conduct surprise inspections in all the quarrying sites in the panchayat, especially those located in and around the Mysoremala and seize all illegally procured equipment and explosives. T. Rafeeque, another member of the local action committee, says the increasing number of cancer patients and those with skin allergies in the limits of the three wards continue to be a huge concern. The majority of the residents in the area are lower income groups and they will not be able to give up their property to protect a quarry, he adds.

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