Petitions were filed with various government agencies; However, according to residents, no steps have been taken to curb the activity of these quarries in the region
Voters of the picturesque Nambarai village, one of 15 agricultural villages surrounded by a range of hills, in Arcot Assembly constituency of Ranipet district, have been living in despair since 2008 when the first private quarry and stone crusher unit started operations near the village.
Quarries and crushing units are not limited to Nambarai village. They are dotted with neighboring farming villages like Anaimallur, Venkatapuram, Pallaprathi and Kuppam. Together, more than 10 quarries and crushing plants have been operating in these villages for the past two decades.
“Residents of all ages are affected. The lakes are contaminated due to dust deposits from these quarries. We will not move because it is our land where our ancestors settled. We are living in despair because of the quarries,” said P. Elumalai, a PhD student in the village.
Residents said their lives had worsened since the first quarry operated many years ago. The bitumen strips were badly damaged and worn years ago. Cracks in the walls and pillars of houses and government buildings like panchayat union schools and anganwadi centers are clearly visible.
Dust particles from the drilled mounds quietly settle on the rice fields, terraced gardens and parked vehicles in the village due to the continuous operation of the quarries. “We cannot get several pots of water from the lakes in the village as layers of dust particles from these quarries can be seen on the water. Children get nervous whenever they hear the noise of explosives being detonated in the quarries,” said V. PetchiammaL, a resident.
At present, these villages, which have a population of around 22,000, are mainly dependent on agriculture, livestock and poultry. They also have at least 13 ponds and lakes, which remain the main source of water for irrigation and domestic consumption.
Paddy is the main crop in these villages which come under Thimiri panchayat union. Farmers also grow green chillies, brinjals, groundnuts, vegetables and mangoes. Quarrying of stones was carried out continuously, leaving residents with sleepless nights.
Residents have petitioned, at least 53 times, to various government offices, including 13 since 2021 to the District Collector. However, residents said no steps have been taken to curb the activities of these quarries in the region.
Apart from hill quarries and their pollution, residents also face the challenge of irregular bus service to remote villages in the constituency, which includes Arcot, Thimiri and Kalavai panchayat unions, which have more than 150 farming villages. Commuters, including women and the elderly, have to walk several kilometers to board the nearest bus stop due to lack of frequent bus services. Commuters said that many bus services were stopped due to poor revenue collection on these bus routes.
As agriculture remains the main occupation, residents said quality seeds and fertilizers are a concern for farmers in the region. The seeds are often of poor quality, leading to losses for farmers. Additional paddy shopping centers are also required in this area.
Incumbent JL Eswarappan of DMK has been re-nominated by DMK for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He won the 2016 and 2021 polls.
The Assembly constituency has been alternately won by the ruling DMK and AIADMK since 1952, when the elections were held for the first time. The DMK won at least six times against the AIADMK’s four. Notable MLAs elected from the assembly constituency included Govindasamy Viswanathan, Chancellor and founder of VIT. Mr. Viswanathan won the seat as an AIADMK candidate way back in 1991 and later became Minister for Food and Cooperation in former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s cabinet.
Published – 05 April 2026 05:30 IST
