Plea to close down stone quarry blasting rocks near Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary
Villagers are petitioning the District Collector to shut down a stone quarry near the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary, citing noise and dust pollution that threatens migratory birds. They argue the quarry violates Supreme Court mandates regarding eco-sensitive zones around protected wildlife areas.
Why it matters
It highlights the ongoing conflict between industrial development and environmental conservation in protected ecological zones.
Demanding the closure of a stone quarry functioning near the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary, a group of villagers submitted petition to District Collector Anand Mohan on Monday.
The petitioner villagers from Pappankulam under Nanguneri panchayat union said thousands of domestic and migratory birds from India and far-off countries would visit Koonthankulam every year. The number of winged visitors would swell manifold whenever Koonthankulam and Kadankulam tanks that collectively form the sanctuary have decent storage of water.
Since permission has been granted for stone quarrying within 2 km of the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary, blasting rocks in the quarry with high-intensity explosives that can be heard even beyond 7 km terrifies the birds camping at Koonthankulam. The cloud of dust billowing from the stone quarry after every blast is being carried away by winds towards Koonthankulam and Kadankulam, where the birds used to nest.
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