Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has sought a detailed study to be conducted by a committee, which includes representatives of all parties in the Assembly, on the two controversial quarries at Moonnilavu panchayat of Erattupetta Block in Meenachil taluk here.
He was speaking at the protest meet, organised by Mala Araya Samrakshana Samithi (MASS) at Moonnilavu, on Saturday. Before taking part in the protest meet, he visited both the controversial quarries in the panchayat.
The two quarries - P C Granites at Nellapara, of which son of Chief Whip P C George is a partner, and Mankombu Granites at Vellara, which is in the name of Nalinakshan Nair, who is allegedly a binami of controversial police officer Tomin Thachankary. Shaun George, son of P C George, was present at the quarry but did not talk to VS. At the protest meet, VS said that on one side the rich were investing huge amounts of money to buy quarries, and on the other side, the Adivasies were being thrown out of the land which they have been holding for years.
“I came here according to the request of MASS. Both the quarry owners and the protesters have given me memorandums. After reaching Thiruvananthapuram I will take up the matter with the Chief Minister and Assembly Speaker and will ask for an all-party Assembly committee to pay a visit to the region and conduct a detailed study.
“If the findings of committee prove that the quarries here are causing environmental issues and are adversely affecting the day-to-day life of the people they will have to be closed down,” he added.
MASS president V S Samuel, vice-president Fr Mammachan and CPM area committee member Joy George were among those accompanied VS during his visit to the quarries and attended the protest meet.
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