Illegal soil excavation racket flourishes under guise of construction in Kerala

Complaints are mounting in Kozhikode district over large-scale illegal soil excavation operations being conducted under the cover of residential construction projects. Environmental activists and concerned citizens have alleged that organized groups are systematically removing soil and earth material from hillocks across the region, causing environmental degradation while presenting the activity as legitimate development work.

The problem has reportedly been exacerbated by the recent decentralization of powers previously held by the Department of Mining and Geology to local self-government institutions. Groups engaged in the excavation are allegedly exploiting gaps in oversight and administrative capacity at the grassroots level to obtain clearances that would not have been granted under stricter departmental scrutiny.

Local authorities have come under pressure to curb the practice, which poses risks to hillside stability, groundwater depletion, and landscape preservation. The unauthorized extraction of soil affects both private and public lands, with operators often operating during night hours to evade detection by concerned residents and officials.

Environmental groups have called for renewed enforcement mechanisms and coordination between local bodies and state-level oversight to plug regulatory loopholes. They have also sought greater transparency in the clearance process and stricter penalties for violators to deter further illegal excavation in the district.