Illegal stone quarrying rampant in city

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While the government is active in conducting raids against illegal granite quarrying in Madurai and Krishnagiri districts, closer home, illegal stone quarrying and crushers are having their way in Thiruneermalai. Residents of the area complain of severe environment and noise pollution due to blatant violations of quarrying norms and licences.

The stone quarry in Thiruneermalai is located dangerously close to the residential area, within 10 meters, in violation of the safety norms of the Mines department.

Existing norms stipulate quarry operations to be at least 300 meters from residential areas.
“Not only residential areas, even a primary school and the Chennai by-pass falls within the 300-meter limit. Despite the violation, no action has been taken to stop illegal quarrying,” said M. Chandran, Kancheepuram district deputy secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangam.

T. K. S. Mohan, a resident of the locality said that powerful explosives were used in the quarry day and night along with machines to break stones. “Though blasting should be done between 2 pm and 4.30 pm, they violate it. Every time they use explosives, we feel the impact and every building in town, including the ancient temple, has developed cracks,” he pointed out.

As many as 50 stone crusher units operate in Thiruneermalai, but only 45 possess permits from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

“Permits of 33 units have expired but they operate illegally,” said local resident Mr K. Arumburajan, adding that most of the crusher units did not use sprinklers while polishing stones as per the norms.
“It results in air pollution. Residents of the temple town have developed serious respiratory problems, women have reproductive issues and children’s health too has been affected,” he said.

CPI (M) central committee member K. Balakrishnan, who has been leading the agitation against the quarrying activities in the area, said, “We have three written statements from the RDO acknowledging illegal quarrying in Thiruneermalai. But no action has been taken.”

He demanded the state government to bring an end to the quarrying activities in Thiruneermalai and also to initiate action against officials who were conniving with the illegal quarrying operators.