Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Apr 27: In the wake of the tragedy at Padu Alevoor recently where a mother and child drowned in a quarry pond, deputy commissioner (DC) of the district, Priyanka Mary Francis, has warned that licences of stone quarries being operated in the district will be cancelled if they fail to erect proper fences around the quarries within 15 days. She issued this ultimatum on Wednesday April 26.
She was addressing a meeting of officials of various departments and representatives of voluntary organizations held in the office of the deputy commissioner on Wednesday on creating a workforce on the issue of erecting compound wall around the stone quarries to extend protection for children.
The DC directed officials of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd to conduct a survey of quarries that are operating in the district without holding a valid licence and see that they are closed. She asked the officials to file compliance report within two days.
"Even where stone quarries are closed now, the owners who were earlier operating them should build fences around them," she stated and asked officials of mines and geology department to cancel the licences issued to such quarries if the owners fail to erect fences around these quarries within 15 days. She also told all the gram panchayats to identify stone quarries, water bodies, and dangerous pits located by the roadside, display warning boards at these spots, and send a report within a week.
The meeting discussed the issue of creating a workforce at gram panchayat level in the district for the purpose of protection of children. The DC asked members of the committee to check the draft on the issue and convey their opinions. She instructed the officials of women and child department to take steps to make children's helpline operational in the district at the earliest.
In response to complaint about sale of liquor illegally at places like Kerady, Haklady, Golihole, and other villages of Kundapur taluk raised by general public, the DC said the department will take suitable action if proper details are furnished. She also assured that names of the complainants will be kept a secret.
Kundapur subdivisional officer, Shilpa Nag, additional deputy commissioner, G Anuradha,officials of various departments and representatives of voluntary organizations were present.