Over three dozen illegal quarries on the fringes of the Sathyamagalam Tiger Reserve (STR), which for years have been the source of polluting stone dust and constant din, will have to now close down operations.
The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Southern Bench has ordered the closure of 39 quarries operating in Erode district within the “no development zone” (10-km radius) of the tiger reserve — the largest in the State.
The NGT had originally taken up the case suo motu following a news report published in The Hinduon July 7, 2013.
Quarrying, stone crushing and transportation were being carried out without clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Board for Wildlife, the NGT order said. They were, however, given permits to function by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, it noted.
“What is more worrying is that the leases were renewed even after Sathyamangalam was declared a tiger reserve,” said K. Mohanraj, an environmental activist, who has campaigned against these quarries.
Clusters of quarries, occupying several acres each, have been operating with impunity in TN Palayam, Igalur, Thalavady, Bhavani Sagar, he said.
“It isn’t just wildlife that has been affected, residents of surrounding villages also contended with noise and air pollution from the constant detonation and trucks that transported stone,” said Mr. Mohanraj.
“Buildings have started developing cracks and the dust pollution has had its health impact. Quarrying has affected wildlife habitat and animal behaviour, forcing species out of the area,” he said.
