Villagers are against the new quarry, crushing unit near Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai

The public hearings, presided over by Sub-Collector S. Madhu Cheziyan and organized by the TNPCB, were held at Palli village near Cheyyar town. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Villagers, mostly farmers and traders, in Palli, Irumanthangal, Mottur Nagar, Vadakkanpattu and Mangalam villages in Tiruvannamalai district have expressed their opposition to the proposed quarry and crusher unit in Palli village.

The public hearings, presided over by Sub Collector S. Madhu Cheziyan, organized by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), were held in a village near Cheyyar town. “A public hearing is mandatory for granting permission for setting up a new quarry and crusher in villages. Any objection or support for the new facility should be given in writing by the participants, especially residents,” said a TNPCB official.

According to the norms, the TNPCB organizes public hearings only in cases where the proposed quarry or a cluster of quarries exceeds a total of five hectares of land in the affected municipality. In other words, new single quarries or clusters of quarries that are less than five hectares will be approved without public hearing. The proposed quarry will be built on a land of more than 10 acres.

Residents said there are large areas of paddy fields around the proposed quarry in Palli village. Farmers also grow green chillies, brinjal, groundnut, vegetables and mangoes. The proposed quarry could pollute groundwater and water bodies in the surrounding agricultural villages and affect agricultural activities. “Farmers are dependent on agriculture and cattle rearing for which clean water bodies are required. The new quarry could affect the livelihood of people in nearby villages,” resident K. Sampath said.

Residents said noise from regular blasting at the proposed quarry will also affect the elderly and children, and huge chunks of stone from the quarry will fall on farmland. The transport of stone extracted from the quarry will also damage village roads. State bus and ambulance services will be affected.

TNPCB officials said that currently Tiruvannamalai district has around 150 stone quarries. Most of the quarries are located in Cheyyar, Vembakkam, Polur and Chetpet which were well connected to the adjoining districts.

Residents’ concerns will be presented to the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), which will decide whether to issue licenses for the new quarry. Renewal of quarries is carried out once every five years.

Published – 20 Jul 2026 0:06 IST