KOCHI: The Kerala High Court Monday cancelled government’s concession granted for the quarries of the state. A division bench led by Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan said environmental clearance is compulsory for all quarries. In September, the government decided to opt out environmental clearance for quarries below five hectares.
The court said the concession of the government is illegal. The division bench directed to strictly implement the mining act of 2005. An order of the court stated that license should not be issued to quarries which do not have an environmental clearance. Act of 2015 has mentioned that environmental clearance and mining plan are needed before the license is issued. Environmental protection is the obligation of the government. The division bench stated that quarries exploiting nature should be removed.
As per mining act, if quarries have a depth of more than six metres and if explosives are used, concession cannot be permitted for the license. The court refused to accept the argument that government’s future would be affected if quarries come to a standstill and also development would be disrupted. Environment cannot be sacrificed in the name of development, the court pointed out.
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