The Geology and Mines Department in Tiruppur is facing flak from farmers over the apparent delay in fencing abandoned stone/gravel quarries across the district.
There have been sporadic instances of people drowning in abandoned quarries in the last couple of years. The last incident took place during January this year when a mother and two daughters drowned in an abandoned quarry filled with rainwater at Iduvai near Mangalam while washing clothes.
During June last year, the government had instructed district administrations to fence abandoned mines, open wells and open borewells. The officials had found 38 legal mines that had been abandoned after the tenure of licence.
The officials were permitted to utilise the District Mineral Foundation Trust Fund for the purpose. As on April 30, 2024, the lessees of major and minor minerals in Tiruppur district had contributed ₹15.39 crore, as per official data.
The government has now sanctioned funds for fencing of 18 abandoned mines, according to officials of Geology and Mines Department.
Citing court directives, farmers emphasised during the agriculture grievances redress meeting recently that the onus was on the government to carry out fencing of all the abandoned quarries.
There are more than 100 rough stone and gravel quarries functioning on patta land in Tiruppur. They are mainly found in Kodangipalayam, Morattupalayam, Madathukulam, Kiranur, Moolanur areas.
Acting on the directives of Madras High Court, the authorities had, in recent years, closed down operations of 64 unlicenced quarries in Uthukuli area. However, there was no provision for government funding for fencing of the unauthorised quarries, said field-level officials of Revenue Department.
The contention of the farmers is that the Geology and Mines Department has to assume responsibility for deaths happening in the quarries, irrespective of whether they are licenced or unlicenced.
Published - May 02, 2025 07:34 pm IST
