Kochi: The High Court on Wedesday put a stay on an order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which said that the distance between the quarries and residential areas must be 200 metres.
Earlier, the state government had stipulated distance of 50 metres.
The NGT had issued the order while considering a petition in Palakkad district. The quarry owner taking this into consideration approached the HC alleging that NGT issued the order after hearing only the Environment Department.
After preliminary examination, HC came into conclusion that NGT did not hear all parties and gave a stay on the order.
If the distance is increased from 50 metres to 200 metres, 95 per cent of the quarries in the state will have to be closed.
