HC directive on quarry licence

Kochi: Kerala High Court Tuesday ordered that without obtaining the environmental clearance, no fresh permit or renewal of permit shall be granted for quarry operations in the state.

The order was issued by the Division Bench comprising of acting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique considering a batch of petitions.

During 2014, considering hardships in the construction sector, government had decided to grant short term licence for quarrying operations for small quarries below 5 hectares.

When writ petitions relating to this issue came up before the bench, Advocate General K Dhandapani informed the Court that the draft rules relating to quarry has been formulated and to finalise it some more time is required.

Considering these aspects the Court asked to stop the quarrying operations going on without getting environmental clearance.