Wayanad invokes catastrophe administration act to curb senseless soil extraction

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Large-scale violation of guidelines referring to soil extraction and development of buildings in landslide-prone hilly district of Wayanad has prompted the district administration to lastly crack the whip. Invoking provisions of the Disaster Management Act, the district administration has made strict compliance with soil extraction and constructing guidelines obligatory for issuance of permits by native our bodies for growth of land or development. Environment activists have demanded related curbs in different hilly districts as nicely to stop large-scale soil erosion and landslides.

In the order, District Collector A Geetha, who can be the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), has made the authority’s permission obligatory for soil extraction above six metres. Besides, ‘bench cutting’ of 1.5 metre has been made obligatory for removing of soil past a peak of three metres. Also, a spot of two metres must be maintained from the adjoining plot whereas finishing up soil extraction, the order states. If the soil is eliminated beneath a peak of three metres, a spot of 1.5 metres has been prescribed from the adjoining plot  

“The existing building permit rules do have most of these conditions already laid down. However, local bodies and other departments do not carry out proper verification before issuing permits,” stated the collector. She added that flouting of guidelines governing soil extraction can have devastating penalties in a hilly district like Wayanad liable to frequent mudslips and landslides.  

According to the order, secretaries of the native our bodies involved ought to be sure that permitted engineers and supervisors submit constructing plans solely after fulfilling the stringent circumstances associated to soil extraction. The geologist of the district has been directed to make sure compliance with the order whereas contemplating functions for mineral transit go.

“By invoking provisions of the Disaster Management Act, we expect stricter enforcement or rules. Also, by bringing the departments concerned under the ambit of the order, there will be better coordination and monitoring,” stated Samshad Marakkar, Wayanad district panchayat president.

According to the Geological Society of India, just a little over half of the full space of Wayanad is landslide-prone. In Idukki, near two-thirds of the district are liable to mudslips and landslides.“The Wayanad district administration’s landmark order brings accountability to various departments that pass the buck when a disaster strikes. The government should take the initiative to replicate the model in other districts, including Idukki, that are landslide prone,” stated Stanley Augustine, secretary, Environment Protection and Research Council, an eco-conservation group.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Large-scale violation of guidelines referring to soil extraction and development of buildings in landslide-prone hilly district of Wayanad has prompted the district administration to lastly crack the whip. Invoking provisions of the Disaster Management Act, the district administration has made strict compliance with soil extraction and constructing guidelines obligatory for issuance of permits by native our bodies for growth of land or development. Environment activists have demanded related curbs in different hilly districts as nicely to stop large-scale soil erosion and landslides.

In the order, District Collector A Geetha, who can be the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), has made the authority’s permission obligatory for soil extraction above six metres. Besides, ‘bench cutting’ of 1.5 metre has been made obligatory for removing of soil past a peak of three metres. Also, a spot of two metres must be maintained from the adjoining plot whereas finishing up soil extraction, the order states. If the soil is eliminated beneath a peak of three metres, a spot of 1.5 metres has been prescribed from the adjoining plot  

“The existing building permit rules do have most of these conditions already laid down. However, local bodies and other departments do not carry out proper verification before issuing permits,” stated the collector. She added that flouting of guidelines governing soil extraction can have devastating penalties in a hilly district like Wayanad liable to frequent mudslips and landslides.  

According to the order, secretaries of the native our bodies involved ought to be sure that permitted engineers and supervisors submit constructing plans solely after fulfilling the stringent circumstances associated to soil extraction. The geologist of the district has been directed to make sure compliance with the order whereas contemplating functions for mineral transit go.

“By invoking provisions of the Disaster Management Act, we expect stricter enforcement or rules. Also, by bringing the departments concerned under the ambit of the order, there will be better coordination and monitoring,” stated Samshad Marakkar, Wayanad district panchayat president.

According to the Geological Society of India, just a little over half of the full space of Wayanad is landslide-prone. In Idukki, near two-thirds of the district are liable to mudslips and landslides.“The Wayanad district administration’s landmark order brings accountability to various departments that pass the buck when a disaster strikes. The government should take the initiative to replicate the model in other districts, including Idukki, that are landslide prone,” stated Stanley Augustine, secretary, Environment Protection and Research Council, an eco-conservation group.