Plea to close down stone quarry blasting rocks near Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary

Demanding the closure of a stone quarry functioning near the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary, a group of villagers submitted petition to District Collector Anand Mohan on Monday.

The petitioner villagers from Pappankulam under Nanguneri panchayat union said thousands of domestic and migratory birds from India and far-off countries would visit Koonthankulam every year. The number of winged visitors would swell manifold whenever Koonthankulam and Kadankulam tanks that collectively form the sanctuary have decent storage of water.

Since permission has been granted for stone quarrying within 2 km of the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary, blasting rocks in the quarry with high-intensity explosives that can be heard even beyond 7 km terrifies the birds camping at Koonthankulam. The cloud of dust billowing from the stone quarry after every blast is being carried away by winds towards Koonthankulam and Kadankulam, where the birds used to nest.

Moreover, the stone quarry dust carried away by the wind also seriously pollutes the water in Koonthankulam and Kadankulam tanks to kill the fishes, the only prey base of the birds.

“As per the Supreme Court’s direction, 10 km around any sanctuary should be declared as ‘Eco Sensitive Zone’, where no quarrying can be carried out. Even though the villagers have passed a resolution in the gram sabha meetings held on Independence Day in 2025 and last Republic Day demanding the cancellation of the permission given for stone quarrying near the bird sanctuary, no step has been taken by the district administration to fulfil the appeal. Pressing this demand, a signature campaign was also conducted to collect more than 2,000 signatures from the villagers. Separate petitions were also submitted by the residents of Vadakku Kazhuvoor, Kadankulam and Thirumalapuram with the same demand. However, the stone quarry is still functioning. Hence, the District Collector should take steps to save the Koonthankulam Birds Sanctuary, a Ramsar site, and cattle rearing, the villagers’ livelihood, by closing down the stone quarry,” said the petitioners.

Led by D. Abraham, Tirunelveli district secretary of Coordination Committee of Tamil Nadu All Farmers’ Associations, a group of farmers submitted a petition seeking a price reduction for chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Even as the farmers were waiting for crop loan waiver, the price of chemical fertilisers and pesticides had increased sharply. At the same time, the procurement price had not been adequately increased by the government.

“Hence, the Central and the State Governments should reduce the fertiliser and pesticide prices. If not, the governments should find alternative livelihood for us,” said Mr. Abraham.

Councillor of ward 50 of Tirunelveli Corporation, K.S. Rasool Maideen, submitted a petition to take steps for constructing a building for Corporation Primary School at Hameempuram on 3.30 acres of government poramboke land opposite Annai Hajira College for Women.

Demanding compensation for black gram crop loss, a group of farmers from Manur submitted a petition.

Seeking the district administration’s intervention for forming a DMK-backed trade union in an activated carbon manufacturing unit in Gangaikondan SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre, a petition was submitted.