New Delhi: In a bid to verify the factual aspects of a petition alleging illegal rock mining affecting the freshwater sources and the locals of Kottarakkara taluk in Kerala’s Kollam district, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a joint inspection of the matter by a three-member committee.
According to news agency IANS, taking cognizance of the matter, the green body constituted a three-member panel, to be headed by the district magistrate, that will ascertain the factual aspects of the plea and submit its report to the Registrar, National Green Tribunal, Sothern Zonal Bench at Chennai, within three months.
Noting the seriousness, a bench of Justice Brijesh Sethi said it appears necessary to verify the factual position of the matter through a joint panel of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Mining and Geological Department, and the Ernakulam district magistrate.
The next hearing on the matter has been scheduled on April 28.
The NGT bench, in its order dated January 25, said that the Kollam district magistrate will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance. It further added that the joint panel may meet within one month to undertake a site visit and look into the grievance of the petitioner.
According to the complaint, the illegal rock mining is being owned and operated by a Cherukulam resident, Mohammed Roshan H, for over a year. The plea further mentions that the illegal mining has devastated the freshwater sources, including a river and groundwater in the locality and also adversely affected about 10,000 people residing in the Kottarakkara taluk.
The plea further stated that the soil removed by mining operations is piled up near the mining areas without taking adequate precautionary measures. A higher secondary school is also located within 300 metres of the mine. The road that is also used by the schoolchildren, has been damaged because of the trucks carrying the loads, the petition added.