3 days ago
Quarrying a sword of Damocles over Kerala's Konni locals
PATHANAMTHITTA: The fatal rockfall at the Chengalam Thazham crusher unit in Payyanamon, Konni — which claimed the life of a migrant worker and left a fellow compatriot trapped — has once again exposed the unchecked quarrying operations in the state's ecologically sensitive zones. What locals call a 'silent exploitation' has now hardened into a deadly pattern, enabled by weak oversight and regulatory indifference.
According to a local panchayat official, officials from the geology department had visited the area for an inspection following the Mundakkai landslide in Wayanad, but failed to consult residents.
'It was just a random site check. No local inputs were sought, no community impact was assessed,' the official said.
The Western Ghats Protection Committee, a vocal critic of quarrying in the region, has demanded that a case of wilful homicide be filed against key officials — including the district geologist, Pollution Control Board officers, the Konni tehsildar, the local panchayat secretary, and the quarry owner. The committee also called for Rs 1 crore in compensation for the family of the deceased worker.
