Illegal stone quarrying ignored: ZP chief

Illegal stone quarrying ignored: ZP chief

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 11, 2017: At the monthly Karnataka Development Programme review meeting at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium on August 10, Thursday,Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat president Meenakshi Shanthigodu expressed dissatisfaction over the negligence of the officials in initiating action against the illegal stone quarrying in the district.

The ZP President said even though a resolution was passed in the previous meeting to provide compensation to the families of those who succumbed to death after drowning in stone quarry pits, nothing has been done in this regard.

Zilla panchayat chief executive officer (CEO) Dr M R Ravi said that it has been instructed to the illegal stone quarry owners to erect protective fences around the quarries.

But the concerned have not acted so far. A report will be submitted by the Zilla Panchayat to the state government against Mines and Geology Department, for not acting against the stone quarries, he added.

Bantwal taluk panchayat executive officer said that the department officials have not been cooperating with the administration towards initiating action against the wrongdoers. There are two illegal stone quarries in Bantwal, he added.

Zilla panchayat vice president Kasturi Panja said that illegal stone quarrying is being carried out in about eight acres of encroached land in and around Ekkar.

Mines and Geology Department deputy director Sumitra said that a survey will be conducted on illegal quarries within a month and a report will be submitted in the next meeting. Measures will be taken to provide compensation to the victims of stone quarries, she added.

Women and Child Development Department deputy director Sundar Poojary said the work towards the children’s train in Kadri park has been handed over to Nirmiti Kendra. But the work has been hit by procrastination, he said.

Nirmiti Kendra officials said that an over-bridge and a tunnel needs to be cleared for the work.

Officials informed the meeting that the Aadhaar seeding of 8,000 beneficiaries of housing schemes has been done in the district.

Health and Education Standing Committee president Shahul Hamid, Agriculture and Industries Standing Committee president Sarvottam Gowda were present in the meeting.