Illegally operating quarries pollute waterbodies, agri fields, complain residents at gram sabha meeting

Ambur panchayat residents raise health concerns due to stone quarries at gram sabha meeting on World Water Day.

Kambur panchayat residents raised the problem of various health issues faced by the people due to the stone quarries operating in the vicinity, at a gram sabha meeting held here on the occasion of World Water Day. 

As several stone quarries located at Ayvathanpatti village of Kambur panchayat were polluting air and waterbodies located in the area, residents of Ayvathanpatti, Muthiraiyar Colony and Sundaram Nagar were falling sick. Livestock raised in the households in the area were also getting affected, the residents worried.  

As opposed to the rules prohibiting operation of quarries within 300 metres of residential area, historical monuments, forests or agricultural fields, several quarries by forging documents have procured permission for operating within the restricted areas, said Mr. Selvaraj, a resident of Kambur. 

In particular, many quarries located near Kachirayanpatti, Sundararajanpatti among other areas had not secured proper documents or permission for the quarry operations, he alleged.  

Before the area completely gets polluted by the quarries, the illegal operation of quarries should be shut immediately, demanded the residents. 

The women participants said explosives used in the quarries were massively polluting the agricultural lands. “A thick white layer has been formed over the crops. Workers alone cannot clear all the dust. Overtime the dust kills the crops,” the women alleged.  

At the gram sabha meeting at Katchaikatti panchayat, the issue of unavailability of drinking water was discussed and a resolution was passed by the villagers to resolve the issue at the earliest.