THIRUVANANTHAPURAM | June 22, 2017: The amendments to be effected to Minor Minerals Control and Development Rules 2015 on Wednesday got the greenlight from the state Cabinet. Industries Minister A C Moideen said as per the amendment, quarries should be situated at least 50 m from the roads, canals, rivers and houses. It is on the basis of the Centre’s rules the minimum distance has been brought down to 50 m, the minister’s office said in a release.

The validity of the Quarrying Permit has been raised to five years from the present three. The previous UDF Government had raised the distance radius to 100 m forcing over 2,000 quarries to shut shop, resulting in acute scarcity of construction materials. According to Moideen, a major portion of the construction materials was supplied by the minor quarries. Since these quarries had stopped functioning, prices of construction materials skyrocketed. He said it was in its wake the Industries Department reviewed the decision. Major minerals like China clay, silica sand and laterite will now be minor minerals.

As laterite for Malabar Cements could not be mined here it had to be purchased from Andhra Pradesh at prices three times higher. As per the amendment rules, the removal of surface soil for constructing buildings will be considered illegal if there was no construction of at least the basement in one year and penalty will be imposed. The local bodies have to record how much land is to be removed while levelling the plot for the construction. It is hoped the new decision will help revive the quarrying activities in the state.

The removal of surface soil for constructing buildings will be considered illegal if there is no construction of at least the basement in one year

The local bodies have to record how much land is to be removed while levelling the plot for the construction

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