TIRUNEVELI | Feb 12, 2015:
A public hearing on carrying out limestone mining at Sethurayanputhur near here began at the Collectorate on Wednesday.
An official from India Cements Limited, during his powerpoint presentation, said the company had proposed to mine four lakh tonnes of limestone per year from its land (29.89 hectares) near Sethurayanputhur near Maanur.
The data provided by the official said over 56,000 people were living in 29 villages near the proposed site which was just 9.60 km away from Gangaikondan deer sanctuary.
“By creating a green ring and sprinkling water, we’ll suppress the dust emanating from the mine, which will not affect the groundwater table in this region,” he noted.
Participating in the public hearing, one Muthuraman said the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, which should have initiated action against ICL for expanding its mining activities without getting proper permission 20 years ago, was still remaining a silent spectator.
Following a threat being posed by the limestone mines in this region to the people living nearby and also to the environment, a case was filed in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court that transferred the case to the National Green Tribunal.
“Since a case pertaining to this issue is already pending before the National Green Tribunal, the public hearing being conducted today itself is contempt of court. We’ll approach the NGT and inform the judge about this development,” Mr. Muthuraman said, charging that today’s public hearing was only an eyewash as mining activities at Sethurayanputhur area had already commenced.
A few more people from the village said the public hearing should have been conducted in the village itself so that the villagers might have expressed their views without any fear.
Chairing the event throughout the day, Collector M. Karunakaran said the public hearing would be continued on Thursday as well.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)
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