HYDERABAD: Residents are grappling with persistent pollution caused by stone quarrying, as nearly 150-200 quarrying units operate dangerously close to residential areas in the city, including Patancheru, Kothwalguda, and Gachibowli.
The impact on locals has been dire, with residents alleging that these units consistently flout regulations, resulting in health issues such as asthma, lung infection, persistent cough, and migraine.
“These units are not permitted to conduct quarrying within one kilometre radius of agricultural lands or residential areas. Yet, without proper authorisation, they continue to operate, impacting not only citizens, but also agricultural lands and livestock,” said Shashikanth Reddy, who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against 33 stone crushing units in the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Residents of Patancheru say that dust pollution has caused severe health problems in the area. “Every other person is afflicted with asthma, lung infections, or common colds. Additionally, due to constant noise from quarrying, there have been numerous cases of migraines and ear ailments,” said Ravi Kumar Chilkuri, a retail business owner in Patancheru.
For small villages around the city, pollution has devastated livestock, leading to the death of cattle that consume dust-covered vegetation and contaminated water. Numerous complaints have been lodged with the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) over the past decade.
Following complaints, the TSPCB conducted an inspection in 2021 and discovered several industries operating illegally, with many violating regulations such as sprinkling water in the area and constructing wind-breaking walls to mitigate emissions.
In a letter to the TSPCB and NGT, 65-year-old Indira Reddy, whose farmland has been encroached by a stone crushing unit at Peddamberpet in Rangareddy district, stated, “According to the TSPCB, particulate matter has exceeded the permissible limit at 250 µg/m³, while the acceptable limit is 40 µg/m³.”
“This excessive particulate matter emission from crushers/industries over the years has led to the complete destruction of agriculture and farming, contamination of drinking water, acidity in groundwater, and depletion of vital nutrients in the soil, hindering tree growth,” Indira Reddy said.
She further emphasised, “These quarries and crushing units have caused environmental destruction and degradation, impacting access to water for agriculture and drinking purposes. Groundwater levels are plummeting due to constant blasting and stone crushing, raising concerns about water availability. Farmers and herders are facing a severe water shortage.”
However, TSPCB officials assert that they are monitoring these industries and have prohibited the operation of several non-compliant units.
