DC directs quarry owners to cover all open pits within 5 days

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 21, 2014:  Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim has issued stern instruction to all quarry owners to  close all open pits within the next five days. The DC’s directive comes in the wake of July 20, tragedy wherein five children lost their lives after slipping into open quarry pits at Mijar and Beluvai.

The DC has directed all quarry owners to close the pits and has added that the respective Gram Panchayats, Tahsildars and Village Accountants should ensure that the orders are adhered to. Following the DC’s directive all quarries in the district will remain defunct for the next five days.

 The villagers have also been directed to inform the respective gram panchayats of any open quarry pit. These caverns have been a source of perennial danger and have claimed  several lives over the past few years and in the latest tragedy snuffed out the lives of five little girls of two families.

It is worth mentioning here that the repeated directive of the authorities to quarry owners to cover the quarry pits once mining activities are completed, have fallen on deaf ears with many quarry pits remaining dangerously open.