Amid opposition from the villagers to a new stone quarry at Kannangudi in Pudukottai district for which permission had been granted by the authorities concerned, Minister for Natural Resources, Minerals and Mines T.K. Prabhu inspected the site on Saturday and heard grievances of the public.
The Minister was on his way to Karaikudi from the Tiruchi international airport when he inspected the site where the new stone quarry is to come up. The new quarry is yet to become functional at Kannangudi village. A group of villagers of Kulavaipatti located a few distance away from the new stone quarry site met the Minister and explained to him the environmental hazards and other problems the new stone quarry could pose once it becomes functional.
Police sources said the Kulavaipatti villagers explained to the Minister that groundwater would deteriorate and farming operations be affected if the stone quarry started functioning. Besides, it would cause pollution in that area posing problems for the villagers.
Demanding the withdrawal of permission granted to the new stone quarry, the villagers explained to the Minister the difficulty it could pose to students of Kulavaipatti while proceeding to the school at Melapatti village and urged him to ensure their safety.
Sources said the Minister gave a patient hearing to the demands of the villagers who presented him a petition. In a brief interaction with journalists near the site following his inspection, Minister Prabhu said the Chief Minister had instructed him to visit the spot upon coming to know about the opposition and the protest by villagers to the new quarry and hear their grievances. The Minister said he had sought details from the officials about the status of the quarry.
