Activists welcome move to close Madurai quarries operating in violation of rules, demand stricter action

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective. First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming. Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day. Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features. A temporarily closed quarry at Ayyapatti Madurai district. | Photo Credit: G. Moorthy Kallanai in Kalligudi taluk is a quiet village situated on the Madurai and Virudhunagar border. The primary occupation is agriculture. However, the farmers of the area have been suffering due to lack of adequate water for agriculture and drinking purposes. The farmers said Gundaru and Thekkaru, the waterspread area, are the main water source. However, for over 10 years, the water source had dried up completely. The waterbody is full of wild growth. The groundwater has also depleted. They blame stone quarrying operations in the region for the drying up of the main water source. In February 2026, villagers from Kallanai, Achangulam, Thumbakulam Pudur, Nedungulam and Ulagani in Kalligudi taluk staged a protest at Madurai Collectorate demanding closure of the stone quarries operating in the area. They said stone quarry operations had encroached upon government land, waterbodies and even Panchami lands. Unauthorised stone quarrying operations had caused revenue loss to the government. Even at the farmers grievance redress meeting the issue was raised. They have also raised complaints against indiscriminate sand quarrying taking place in the district. In May, the authorities temporarily closed at least 11 stone quarries across Madurai district that were found to be operating in violation of the rules and guidelines. These included the quarries operating in Kallanai and Kalligudi taluk. An inquiry has been ordered. The authorities have been issued instructions to conduct an assessment to ascertain the number of quarries operating, closed quarries and with regard to the extent of the violation of the rules. R. Marichami, a resident, welcomed the move. He said quarrying operations in the area had destroyed agriculture and waterbodies. He said prior to the quarrying operations, the residents should have been consulted. An abandoned quarry at Kallanai in Madurai district. | Photo Credit: R. Ashok