Coimbatore: Days later sealing over 20 illegally functioning brick kilns in Thadagam valley, the team of officials including Coimbatore North Dashildar T. Magesh, TNPCB, Director of Geological and Mining department and others have rushed to close the remaining brick kilns.
Coimbatore: Days later sealing over 20 illegally functioning brick kilns in Thadagam valley, the team of officials including Coimbatore North Dashildar T. Magesh, TNPCB, Director of Geological and Mining department and others have rushed to close the remaining brick kilns.
The move comes after members of environmental organisations, tribal and farmers association urged the authorities to close down the remaining kilns, on priority.
One of the activists and petitioner who have filed for the closure of illegal brick kilns in Madras High Court, Ramesh, said that the brick kilns operating here are mostly have connections with politicians which is why they are not being sealed completely.
As many as 197 brick kilns are told to be functioning in Thadagam valley, causing people of various health issues.
TMS Rajendran, representing farmers association in this region said over 1,80,000 crores of mineral have been mined by these brick kiln owners, so far in 9,500 acres of land. We have been deprived of our basic rights in our own region and several complaints to the officials have fell on deaf years, he said.
“They closed over 20 brick kilns in the region following Madras High Court order and have now come to close down the rest. But the question is, if the officials dare to close all the brick kilns operating here?” he questioned.
The members from tribal association, farmers association and environmental organisations have also alleged that these brick kiln owners have allegedly earned more than 1.65 crores by mining againstthe government’s rule. They also urged the officials to take action against these owners and cease the resources mined immediately.
The illegally acquired land by these kiln owners from the tribals and common public should be handed over back to them. And, immediately provided Rs. 25 lakh, as a solatium for suffered so long due to brick kilns and elephant conflict, he told.
Multiple attempts to reach Coimbatore North Tahsildhar T. Mahesh failed.
The move comes after members of environmental organisations, tribal and farmers association urged the authorities to close down the remaining kilns, on priority.
One of the activists and petitioner who have filed for the closure of illegal brick kilns in Madras High Court, Ramesh, said that the brick kilns operating here are mostly have connections with politicians which is why they are not being sealed completely.
As many as 197 brick kilns are told to be functioning in Thadagam valley, causing people of various health issues.
TMS Rajendran, representing farmers association in this region said over 1,80,000 crores of mineral have been mined by these brick kiln owners, so far in 9,500 acres of land. We have been deprived of our basic rights in our own region and several complaints to the officials have fell on deaf years, he said.
“They closed over 20 brick kilns in the region following Madras High Court order and have now come to close down the rest. But the question is, if the officials dare to close all the brick kilns operating here?” he questioned.
The members from tribal association, farmers association and environmental organisations have also alleged that these brick kiln owners have allegedly earned more than 1.65 crores by mining againstthe government’s rule. They also urged the officials to take action against these owners and cease the resources mined immediately.
The illegally acquired land by these kiln owners from the tribals and common public should be handed over back to them. And, immediately provided Rs. 25 lakh, as a solatium for suffered so long due to brick kilns and elephant conflict, he told.
Multiple attempts to reach Coimbatore North Tahsildhar T. Mahesh failed.