Quarry accident: case to be filed against owner
The decision comes in the wake of a finding by the Labour department that adequate safety measures were not in place at the time of the accident. In addition, an investigation will be launched into allegations that the quarry had encroached upon government land. As part of it, a joint team of officials is expected to conduct a detailed inspection at the quarry.
Land grab
At the meeting, Konni MLA K.U. Jineesh Kumar called for a thorough probe into the safety lapses that led to the accident. He also demanded that all complaints against the quarry be examined. 'It has been found that the quarry owner had illegally erected a gate by encroaching on panchayat land and it will be removed with police assistance. Action will be taken under the Panchayati Raj Act. Allegations that waste from the quarry is flowing into nearby water sources and that it is operating in a landslides-prone area will also be investigated,' the MLA said.
Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta District Administration has directed officials from various departments to inspect all quarries operating in Konni, Ranni and other parts of the district and to submit a report within 10 days. The scope of the probe also includes verifying whether the Chengalam quarry was functioning illegally. A drone survey will be conducted to examine claims that quarrying was carried out by encroaching upon revenue land. Quarry operations at the site have been temporarily suspended.
The meeting was attended by Adoor Revenue Divisional Officer M. Bipin Kumar, Deputy Collector for Disaster Management R. Rajalakshmi, Fire and Rescue Services district chief Pratap Chandran, Konni tahsildar N.V. Santhosh, and Deputy Superintendent of Police G. Ajaynath, along with public representatives and senior officials.
Two workers, identified as Mahadev Pradhan and Ajay Rai, lost their lives when a massive rockslide struck the excavator they were operating. Due to recurring rock falls, rescue efforts were delayed and it took nearly two days to recover their bodies. The operation could be completed only after a long-boom excavator was brought in from Alappuzha.
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