Anti-quarry activists in the district have alleged serious negligence on the part of the district-level committee, which was formed under a Sub Collector recently to investigate the impact of quarrying in ecologically-sensitive areas. Leaders of local action councils say the committee comprising senior Revenue officials and a geologist is yet to conduct a satisfactory field visit and uncover those using unpermitted heavy equipment and mining accessories. Leaders of Paristhithi Samrakshana Samiti have alleged that some officers are unwilling to visit hilly terrains. Most of them stop midway unable to cover the distance on foot and subsequently come out with half-baked reports, they claim. “A majority of granite quarries located within the limits of Kodiyathur and Karassery panchayats are using rock breakers and compressors beyond the permitted number. Only an actual field inspection will expose such unlawful practices,” says G. Anilkumar, convener of Paristhithi Samrakshana Samiti in the Mukkom area. He adds that surprise visits by Revenue squads are least surprising for many illegal operators as they have informers at various levels. Mr. Anilkumar also argues that not even 5% of the total number of quarries suspected of triggering the latest episodes of landslips in Kozhikode have been covered by the district-level committee. “What we badly miss is the presence of Assistant Collectors who can interact with local people in Malayalam and garner information. Even memorandums prepared in native language are not properly checked by officials,” he laments. ‘Inspections a farce’ A.S. Jose, an environmental activist from Koombara where landslips recently forced hundreds of families to move in search of safer places, says the inspections conducted by the designated revenue team in the area are proving a farce. Officials, including those who recently visited the spot on behalf of the Geological Survey of India, were found struggling to communicate with the local people and take feedback for solutions, he claims. Samiti activists also point out that the field study ordered by the District Collector is not likely to gain any fresh impetus in the wake of the latest order from the National Green Tribunal that took away all powers of the district-level expert appraisal committee in giving approval for quarrying projects. Till the formation of a State-level expert committee for doing the same, all district-level efforts to monitor it are likely to be stalled, they fear.

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