Justin D’Silva
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Udupi, Jul 28: With ongoing monsoon, a recurring issue has come once again to the fore – the stone quarries. Abandoned stone quarries in the district have now become virtual death traps for many with casualties being reported on a regular basis.
We had reported the state of stone quarries in Dakshina Kannada district earlier. Now a check in Udupi district reveals that the situation is worse here.
The water filled in these quarries is a main cause of death to many. Since 2011 to 2017, as many as 72 death cases have been reported due to drowning in these quarries in the district. It includes 37 children. There are 108 functioning quarries in the district. On April 25, 2017, a mother and son lost their lives due to drowning in an abandoned quarry near Alevoor.
Contractors do not follow rules
After the incident, district commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis had strictly ordered the owners of these quarries to undertake safety measures and build wall or fence around the quarries. An amount of Rs 1.3 crore was allotted to fence eight defunct quarries in 6 villages in the district. But many contractors do not follow the instructions strictly. As they use explosives during mining, the fencing had to be reinstalled repeatedly. These quarries are mainly located in Nandalike, Belman, Shirva, Karkala and Kundapur.
Beside these 108 legally functioning quarries, there are many which are functioning illegally across the district. The officials of mining and geology department say that they have filed cases against the quarries that are functioning illegally as per complaints they receive from public. Many quarries function illegally in Nandalike, Saibrakatte of Udupi district. Villagers of Chara gram panchayat in Karkala taluk had protested against the illegal mining activities in the village.
Encroaching forests and damage to roads
These illegal quarries have also encroached deemed forest in Kundapur taluk. Locals of Chowkadajeddu, near Siddapur Airabailu of Kundapur had protested against these illegally functioning quarries. A quarry functioning in Chara village of Karkala taluk is owned by a member of Chara gram panchayat. In some cases, the local administration joins hands with these quarry owners and takes no action against them.
These quarries not only cause one problem, but many others which includes damaging of roads. Due to the running of heavy red stone-laden trucks, roads are bearing heavy loss in the village. The roads in some areas near to these mines are in pathetic condition. People here now fear for their lives to walk on roads due to rash driving of these trucks. In some of the quarries, contractors use explosives to break stones. Use of these explosives has affected house of nearby residents.
‘Safe haven’ for alcoholics
The defunct quarries have become a haven for alcoholics. Many alcohol bottles are found near the defunct quarry in Alevoor village. There are many houses near this quarry. People live here in fear ad are scared to leave their children alone to play outside. No safety measures are adopted in the quarry. The quarry is open in all four sides which is enough evidence to take action against the contractors. Only two boards saying ‘Swimming in this lake is prohibited’ are installed in two ends.
Speaking to daijiworld.com, Srikanth Nayak, president, Alevoor gram panchayat said, “The quarry is defunct here from the last 10 years. As it is not profitable for the contractors, they have not taken any safety measures. The lease has also ended. After the death of two persons due to drowning in the quarry, we have informed locals not to venture near the quarry. A few years ago, the gram panchayat had taken the initiative to fill the place with mud and other resources. We had even sent a report to the district administration, but no grant was allotted to build a fence.”
Whatever may be the situation, these quarries are a deathtrap to many. Proper safety measures must be taken before the death toll by drowning increases. The district administration and officials of mining department must take responsibility and proper action must be taken against offenders.
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