Residents of Perumugai Panchayat in Vellore constituency has decided to boycott the assembly elections. They are taking all desperate measures to close down the quarries and so far the results were not in their favour. So as the last weapon they have decided to boycott assembly elections.
The villagers have already sent a petition to Chief Election Officer Rajesh Lakhoni stating that they will boycott the assembly elections. Residents of Perumugai Panchayat has 2500 Voters and everyone of them have signed the petition to express their solidarity.
Villagers have clearly mentioned in their petition that they have demanded the closure of stone quarries as that has affected their livelihood and environment. This has been a demand from their side since 1994. But none of the Government and Officials have listened to them.
They said everyone turned out to be deaf in this regard. Villagers have also said the money and the contractors who are close to Political circles who run the quarries are also a big threat.
The villagers futher said, they have also spoke to district collector, mines and minerals department, chief secretaries, chief minister special cell, police and political leaders for 22 years and there has been just muted response and all petitions were just ignored. An old woman said that around 15 persons were killed due to Quarry related accidents.
