Protest is mounting against the alleged move of a granite lobby to resume quarrying at Mandad, an ecologically fragile area on the Manikkunnumala hills in the district.
Though former Wayanad Collector Kesavendrakumar had banned granite quarrying in the area in 2014 after a series of protests by residents of Mundu Parakunnu and Mandad areas in Muttil village, a granite lobby acquired permission from Geologist, Wayanad, to resume quarrying, P.M. Yeldo, convener of an action council protesting against quarrying, said.
A few months ago, the lobby purchased 30 acres of land adjacent to the quarry from farmers paying a huge price to began quarrying and to set up sand-making plants, Mr. Yeldo said.
Landslip-prone
Five landslips were reported near the quarry during the monsoon this year. A few weeks ago, members of the District Environmental Appraisal Committee had visited the site, A.K. Mathai, chairman of the council, said.
Many tributaries of the Kabani river originate in Manikkunnumala and the quarry is proposed to be set up around 300 m from the Muttil forest under the Meppadi forest range of the South Wayanad Forest Division, he said.
Man-animal conflict
Man-animal conflict had come down considerably in the area after the ban on quarrying, but the residents feared that the functioning of the quarry would adversely impact wildlife, increasing man-animal conflict, he said.
“More than 30 families are living within 175 m of the proposed site and if quarrying resumes, it will adversely affect the people living there,” he said.
Operation of the plant would increase the drinking water scarcity in the area, he said.
If those concerned went ahead with the plan to operate the quarry, the villagers would launch a series of agitations, he warned.