Vellore: The functionaries of AIADMK and Congress party, who have been running stone quarries in Perumugai panchayat near Vellore, reportedly threatened the villagers with dire consequences for demanding the closure of the quarries.
The villagers have petitioned the district administration on Monday seeking its intervention to stop the plundering of the natural resource in the village and safeguard their livelihood and ensure their safety. On the other hand, the contractors have also submitted petition against the villagers that they have been operating the quarries after obtaining license for over 30 years.
The villagers have decided to approach the district administration after the contractors threatened the villagers for protesting against the stone quarry. The villagers have named A P L Sundaram, councilor and zonal president-II of Vellore Corporation, Anandan (alias) Radhakrishnan, C K Devendran, C N Kotteswaran, C N Rajesh and G Arumugam, all functionaries of AIADMK party, and C K Sivaji, a congress councilor of Vellore Corporation, who have been running the quarries, in their petitioned and said they have threatened them for raising their voice against the quarries.
The contractors along with the supporters came to the village at about 10.30 am and entered into a verbal dual with the villagers. "If something bad happen to us, the seven persons are responsible for that. They have literally threatened us and said that they will show us what they can do," said Rajendran of the village.
The villagers further said that the quarries had been operated for close to 40 years. Indiscriminate quarrying activity, including frequent blasting, had affected the water bodies in the village and several houses developed cracks. "Agricultural activities have affected in several acres of land," said another villager.
Apart from this, the heavy vehicles transporting the gravels and stones have been using the Ponniamman Koil Street (panchayat road) as an approach road to the quarries. Nearly 100 tipper lorries have been plying on a day on the narrow road, putting the lives of the villagers and students of the Government School at grave danger.