Residents allege illegal mining, threat to houses at Pirayiri-Mambra quarry

PALAKKAD

Residents of Pirayiri and Mambra areas have alleged illegal mining and excessive blasting at a granite quarry, claiming that the activities have damaged nearby houses and pose a risk to a government water tank and a 110-kv power line.

According to the residents, repeated blasting has caused cracks in the walls and roofs of nearby houses, with the damage worsening over time. Around 25 houses are at risk, they said, adding that some families fear they may have to leave their homes.

Residents also alleged that the quarry is violating the conditions of its permits and environmental clearances. They claimed that the quarry extracts four to five times the legally permitted quantity of granite each day and transports it in around 150 trucks. They have sought an investigation into the quantity of granite mined and transported and the resulting loss of government revenue.

They said the quarry’s operations also pose a risk to a government water tank with a capacity of 2.5 million litres and a 110-kv electricity transmission line near the site.

The residents alleged that complaints submitted to the local grama panchayat, the District Police Chief and the District Collector had not led to effective action. They said meetings with the quarry owner and officials had also failed to resolve the issue.

They further questioned the quarry owner’s claim that the Kerala High Court had ordered police protection for its operations. According to the residents, an order issued several months ago was limited to one month and was intended for blasting trials. They have asked the authorities to clarify the status and validity of the court order.

The residents have called for an official inspection to assess the damage to houses, the impact of blasting, the quantity of granite extracted and transported, and the risks to public property and power infrastructure.

They warned that they would launch protests if the authorities failed to act. P.P. Sunai, A. Habeeba, S.M. Shamseela and V.K. Shajitha represented the residents during a press briefing here.

The quarry owner could not be contacted. Those who claimed themselves to be quarry officials denied the allegations of rules violations. They said they were functioning by abiding by the existing laws.