Web Exclusive Quarrying destroying South Andamans

Indiscriminate quarry operations are on at full swing in the South Andamans, where a 3 square kilometre (sq km) stretch houses as many as 35 quarries. With a lot of rebuilding and reconstruction work happening post-tsunami, and new buildings coming up, the demand for stone and stone products like granules and dust has increased in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Since there are no quarries in Nicobar, villages like Brooksabad, Prothroepur and Birchgunj located on the outskirts of the capital Port Blair have become the centre of the island's quarrying activities.

Blasting, stone crushing, lorries ferrying stone products, skyline covered with dust, drying water reservoirs, withering trees and plants, depleting water table, choked streams and nalas, homes covered with dust, and sick children are some of the results of indiscriminate quarry operations in these three villages, which are spread across 3 sq km.

Birchgunj, Brooksabad and Prothroepur were predominantly agricultural villages. However, the entire stretch is lined with quarries now. Some have even come up inside residential areas. Crushers have not been allotted fixed timings during which they can operate. As a result, some run through the night.

The Corbyn's Cove quarry was started in 1975-76. From here quarry operations slowly spread towards the three villages. Initially, the Andaman Public Works Department operated Corbyn's Cove quarry. The Military Engineer Services joined in later. Thereafter, the government privatised quarry operations, and kept issuing licenses to operators without sparing a thought about the consequences. No attempt was even made to conduct surveys and find other suitable sites.

As a result of indiscriminate quarrying, the northern flank of the Birchgunj hill is now bare. Earth is currently being removed from its western flank. As and when a rock appears, a fresh license will be issued for yet another quarry.

First-hand accounts
Needless to say, residents of the villages have been paying a heavy price. "When we came here in 1985, one could get water by digging just one-and-a-half feet. Now boring 40 feet doesn't fetch water,' says Shibu Verghese, a resident of Prothroepur. "A lot of children suffer from bleeding noses,' he adds.

"Earlier rocks were bored to a depth of 2-3 feet. However, now with powerful machines, 3-meter deep holes are dug. The whole of Birchgunj village shakes during the blasts. Fissures, which have developed in the rocks, allow sub-soil water to seep down