Noted environmentalist Medha Patkar has extended her support to the protest against stone crushers in Maletha. In her letter, she has stated that there are many illegal stone crushers being operated in various parts of Uttarakhand which should be closed without delay. Medha Patkar has written to the CM, asking him to ban stone crushers and other forms of mining in Uttarakhand, citing these activities as illegal. Senior functionaries of several other organisations have also written to the CM on the same issue, asking for a ban on the operation of stone crushers. They said stone crushers are aggravating the problem of environmental depletion and climate change, inviting disasters. They lauded the struggle being waged by the villagers living at Maletha and its adjoining areas.
Medha Patkar has demanded prompt stoppage of the unregulated stone crushers in Maletha and withdrawal of the unjust and false cases slapped on the protesters. Patkar said that the government should step in to conserve environment and to safeguard agriculture and land.Patkar said that despite the recently submitted commissioner’s investigation report having clearly pointed out that all the stone crushers are illegal, no action is being taken to stop the operation of the stone crushers. She further said the people are justified to stage protest, given the administration’s apathy.