Farmers of Alancheri village in Uthiramerur taluk have urged the Kancheepuram Collector to stop a move to open a blue metal quarry near a tank that they use to irrigate their fields.
The 12-acre piece of land lies in between the irrigation tank and the Kunnavakkam hillock where farming takes place regularly. The village has around 150 Dalit farmers and their families, who have 150 acres of agricultural lands and use the water from the tank for drinking purposes and their crops.
J.S. Jayakumar, a farmer, said that the meichal poromboke land (grazing lands) had been illegally sold off to a private party, who by the looks of it plans to start a quarry and crusher unit. “The water from the Kunnambakkam hillock flows down to our tank and from there to our fields. But long ago some lands on the hillock were sold off illegally and a quarry was started there. We had to go upto the court to stop that from functioning,” he explained.
T. Tamilselvan, another farmer, said that those who purchased the land previously have dug up a couple of holes that are about 100 feet – 150 feet deep and quite wide to be used as quarries. “The waters from the hillock are entering these holes and those have residual chemicals from previous illegal blasting of the Kunnavakkam hill. That is affecting our farming. We want the waters of our tank and that flows in from the hill to be tested. We are forced to filter that water for drinking.”
Collector Kalaiselvi Mohan said that she had received the petition of the farmers and would look into the issue.
