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Quarry permission: Lost faith in Govt, says HC

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday said that it has lost faith in the Kerala Government in the matter of seeking permission from the Centre after submitting environmental clearance of quarries.

A procedure supposed to be completed within 15 days has not been completed even after two months. Justice Devan Ramachandran criticised that the government is trying to contravene the court orders in the regard.

The court's rap came as it observed that the orders passed - in the plea of CG George, a crusher owner of Nedumpoyil, Kannur and others who questioned the stop memos served by geologists - were not honoured.

The plea questioned the stop memos served on the basis of office memorandum, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), which banned development and mining activities in the quarries within 10 kilometres of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The court in a previous order had allowed the quarry owners to submit fresh applications before the NBWL (National Board of Wild Life) and said that the quarries could be reopened if the Board fails to consider these applications within two months.

The court was considering a review petition filed against the order.

News Summary - Quarry permission: Lost faith in Govt, says HC