Thaliparamba (Kannur): Contractors have been fined Rs 72.6 lakh for illegal soil extraction linked to national highway development. The fine was imposed by the District Mineral Squad under the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules after soil mining was found in the Kuppam area.

Megha Engineering Company, the contractor involved, paid the fine for removing soil from areas outside the designated zones for national highway construction.

A team led by District Mineral Squad Geologist K.K. Vijayan collected the fine. Investigations revealed that soil had been excavated from the properties of around 15 individuals. While the contracting company is allowed to extract soil from land allocated for the highway, permission from the relevant authorities is required for excavation from any other location.

Complaints of illegal soil removal under the guise of national highway construction are common. The hills on both sides of the Kuppam bridge have already been levelled, causing concern among local residents.

Officials noted that unscientific and illegal soil excavation in Kuppam and Kanikunnu has been ongoing in connection with the highway project. The issue came to wider attention when, during the last monsoon, houses in Kuppam CH Nagar were flooded with muddy water following the levelling of the Kappanathattil hill, prompting protests.

While the construction of a retaining wall in the Kappanathattil area has provided some relief, authorities warn that if the work is not completed before the next monsoon, many families in Kuppam may face further disruption.