PONDA: Residents of Keri-Ponda are on a chain hunger strike to oppose the deputy collector’s order granting permission to lift mined stones from a quarry at Amadi-Keri.

Opposing the order, several villagers including women on Tuesday decided to block transportation of the mined stones. It may be recalled that the villagers have been opposing the stone quarry and crusher operations, on grounds that the project is illegal. The villagers claimed that the stone crusher was illegally operated in private property without the consent of the property owner and the stone quarry has caused irreparable damage to the environment.