Now Reading: KSHRC orders fencing of 70 abandoned quarries in Ernakulam
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KSHRC orders fencing of 70 abandoned quarries in Ernakulam
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has directed the Ernakulam district administration to inspect 70 abandoned quarries considered accident risks and install protective fencing, gates and warning boards. Chairperson Justice Alexander…
The Story in Brief
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has directed the Ernakulam district administration to inspect 70 abandoned quarries considered accident risks and install protective fencing, gates and warning boards. Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas issued the order in a suo motu case after a recent death at Pettamala quarry in Mudakkuzha.
The Commission ordered authorities to identify owners and direct them to fence. If owners fail, the district collector may use the District Mineral Foundation Fund to do the work and recover costs. Hazardous quarries include sites in Tripunithura, Thiruvaniyoor, Mookkannoor, Varappetty, Parakkadavu and Malayattoor-Neeleeswaram. The Geology Department has recommended amending the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules to make owners solely responsible. Action-taken reports are due within six weeks.
The Indian Opinion
The KSHRC's intervention is welcome, but it raises a familiar question: why were these quarries left dangerous for so long after mining stopped? Blaming owners alone ignores that local bodies and the Geology Department share monitoring responsibility. Using the District Mineral Foundation Fund for fencing is sensible, but recovery from owners may prove difficult in practice. The real test will be the action-taken report due in six weeks, and whether the number of fenced quarries matches the 70 identified.
Source: english.mathrubhumi.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
