Quarry lease holders seek extension of lease period

Chennai, Sept 11 (UNI) Blue Metal Stone Quarry lease holders welfare committee today urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to extend the stone quarry leasing period from five years at present to 20 years.

Committee's Founder Sathai A Bagyaraj told newsmen here that it would take atleast two years for the lease holders to lay approach roads to the quarry and provide other infrastructure.

They were left only with three years time out of the lease time of five years. This affected the lease holders financially and they were left in debts.

He said the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), in its communication to all the state Governments had asked to ensure that stone quarry leasing period should be for atleast 20 years.

Setting an example, Mr Bagyaraj pointed out that one Vargheese who was leased out a stone quarry at Keerapakkam in Kancheepuram district in 1988, had created a stone quarry with a huge investment.

As per the lease agreement, he could take 7500 lorry loads of blue metal for a period of five years. But the erstwhile AIADMK Government terminated his lease in 2003, on the ground that his lease term had expired. At the time of termination, Mr Vargheese had moved only 3000 lorry loads of blue metal.

Despite repeated representations by Mr Vargheese for the last three years, he could not get the termination revoked. Enquiries revealed that there would be atleast 150 apeople affected like Mr Vargheese in different parts of Tamil Nadu.

Considering this, the Chief Minister should instruct the officials concerned for rendering justice to Mr Vargheese and others.

UNI RV VV 1539