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53 quarries don’t have environmental clearance

Srikakulam | Jul 11, 2016: Granite quarries are facing environmental clearances (EC) threat in the district as they have been running without EC. Recently, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) made EC mandatory for running a quarry irrespective of extent of volumes.

With the direction of MOEF, the State Mines and Geology department and Pollution Control Board (PCB) officials inspected and identified quarries that do not have ECs.

A total of 90 granite quarries are being run in Tekkali sub-division and 20 quarries in Srikakulam sub-division of which 53 quarries do not have ECs. Remaining quarry owners have applied for ECs. Previously, the District Collectors were sanctioning ECs for quarries to the extent of five hectares and more.

Now, quarry owners can directly apply to MOEF’s State body at Hyderabad to get ECs by submitting their lease approvals, mining plan and no objection certificate (NOC) from concerned revenue authorities. “We have issued notices for closure of 53 granite quarries in the district which are not having ECs,” explained Srikakulam and Tekkali sub-divisions assistant directors (ADs) K LaxmiVaraPrasad and S V Ramana Rao.

“All quarry owners must obtain ECs from MOEF irrespective of extent of quarries as Central government is seriously observing environmental norms and we are suggesting quarry owners on ECs,” said PCB executive engineer (EE) K Laxmipathi Kumar.

On the other hand, granite quarry owners are seeking political support to run quarries without ECs.

In this backdrop Uttarnadhra Granite Quarries Owners Association representatives K Srinivas, B Hari and others submitted amemorandum to Minister for Labour and Employment K Atchannaidu in Vijayawada on Friday for enhancement of period to get ECs for three months.

(Source: http://www.thehansindia.com/)