Arappor Iyakkam’s public hearing on quarrying impact suspended mid-way following attack on PUCL general secretary

Chaos prevailed at the public hearing organised by Arappor Iyakkam in Tirunelveli on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
A. SHAIKMOHIDEEN

Tense moments prevailed at a public hearing organised by Arappor Iyakkam on Sunday to discuss the impact of indiscriminate quarrying on environment and livelihood of villagers in the areas.

After V. Suresh, national general secretary, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), was attacked with a plastic chair, which hit his head, the hearing was suspended mid-way.

The meeting was held at a private marriage hall at Kokkirakulam. Mr. Suresh, N. Udhayarajan, director of Uvakai Research Foundation, Nandakumar Shiva of Thannatchi, Thanigaivel, bio-diversity expert, and I. Nandhini, social activist, attended as panel members. They highlighted the challenges and examined the impact of mining.

As the meeting began, farmers from Radhapuram and Alangulam taluk expressed concern over quarrying in their villages. They highlighted issues such as cracks developing in houses, dust pollution affecting agricultural yield, and irregular water supply in irrigation channels.

Tension grew when around 25 men claiming to be advocates of stone quarries and quarry owners disrupted the meeting, as villagers began voicing their grievances. They were requested to wait until the villagers had finished and present their counter-views later. However, they suddenly erupted, hurling plastic chairs and creating panic at the venue.

Arappor Iyakkam coordinator Jayaram Venkatesan was asked by the group to apologise for using the term ‘theft’ of natural resources. When he refused, they further caused ruckus and continued to disrupt the proceedings.

“The whole idea behind the commotion was to disrupt the meeting and terrorise the villagers for speaking the true facts about mining,” Mr. Suresh told The Hindu.

Those responsible were provoked because the meeting could expose the environmental and livelihood impact of illegal mining and their motive was to prevent the discussion. Some advocates allowed the disturbance to continue to ensure that the meeting did not proceed further, he added.

Mr. Venkatesan said although the organisers initially planned to continue the event, the venue owner requested them to call it off. A formal complaint would be filed against the miscreants with the Tirunelveli police.