Complaints mount over illegal soil excavation under the guise of house construction in Keralam’s Kozhikode

Complaints have surfaced from environmental activists against a number of organised groups in Kozhikode district that are allegedly involved in the illegal excavation and removal of soil from hillocks in the name of house construction. The groups are reportedly taking advantage of the recent transfer of certain powers from the Department of Mining and Geology to local self-government institutions to obtain legal clearances for such activities.

Officials of some local bodies have also been accused of overlooking the strict enforcement of rules and favouring unauthorised land development works. Sources said the soil excavated illegally from the hillocks was being sold at exorbitant prices for use in unauthorised land development works in wetlands and paddy fields.

Under the existing procedure, a person seeking permission to remove soil from a property for house construction must submit the relevant land documents and building plan to the local authorities concerned. The quantity of soil that can be removed is assessed through a report, which must also ensure that the excavation does not harm water sources or wetlands. Permission is granted after the prescribed fee is paid.

According to a few complainants who recently sought action from local authorities, local agents mostly approach economically vulnerable landowners with offers to level their plots free of cost. They later obtain the property documents from the owners and use them to prepare building plans for large structures, which are submitted for approval. The permissions are then allegedly used to remove soil far in excess of the quantity allowed under the approved plans, resulting in the levelling of hillocks. In some cases, the quantity of soil removed is reportedly several times the permitted limit.

“The rules require local administrators to inspect the site within a year of the removal of soil. They must verify whether the foundation of the proposed building has been constructed in accordance with the approved plan. If construction has not begun, the local body can recover a penalty equivalent to five times the fee paid,” said an environmental activist. According to him, these mandatory inspections and other monitoring requirements are not always followed.

Some residents’ association functionaries and environmentalists said several local bodies had failed to properly maintain records, making it easier for those allegedly involved in illegal soil excavation to continue their activities.

Meanwhile, some grama panchayat secretaries said complaints regarding such illegal practices could be referred for immediate site inspection and further legal action. They also added that the vigilance of local administrators had helped identify several attempts at illegal land excavation in time.