A rural school in Kozhikode’s Kattullamala village is facing a serious security threat from uncontrolled explosions at a nearby granite mine. Several cracks have already developed in the walls of the newly constructed building of Nirmala AUP School in Kayna Panchayat, making it difficult for the school authorities to obtain an operating permit from the local panchayat.
Since 2018, the students here have been going through a harrowing experience due to the perceived apathy of the Revenue and Geology departments in looking after their safety concerns. The school now has 150 students preparing to formally reopen the institution on 1 November.
Along with the school, there are about 40 houses in the area which are in the grip of continuous blasts. According to local residents, the mine owners, who managed to get clearance for their commercial operations, are least bothered about addressing local grievances.
“Though there is an action committee which is actively involved in the field-level protests, there has been no favorable action from the district-level authorities so far. We cannot allow our students to live in a scary environment,” says a school teacher, who has already knocked on several doors.
The school’s parent-teacher union leaders say they are waiting for a favorable action from the district collector who can easily visit the location to verify the authenticity of the complaints. He says, “If the mine continues its work, we will be forced to shift our children from here and it will certainly shut down this institution in this remote village with 60 years of history.”
Meanwhile, revenue department sources say that complaints related to uncontrolled explosions in the area by various action committees and local residents are presently under consideration of the government panel. In view of the complaints related to the safety of the students, a fresh inspection will be done at the excavation site.