A regional squad of the Revenue Department will conduct intensive checking in various locations of Vadakara taluk following complaints from people’s representatives that illegal mining thrives in the area in the absence of a proper checking mechanism. Most exploited People’s representatives, who raised the complaint in a recent meeting of the Taluk Development Committee, said the hilly regions of the taluk were the most exploited mining areas, where possibilities were high for landslips and other natural calamities. E.K. Vijayan, MLA, and Development Committee member Rajeendran Kappally, who placed the issue before the officials, said the rural belt beginning from Vanimel panchayat to Maruthongara was the main focus of quarrying and mining activities without proper clearance or permission from the authorities concerned. Comprehensive inquiry They demanded that a comprehensive inquiry should be conducted to trace illegal miners in the area and stop their activities to save the location from man-made natural calamities. 1,000 hectares The committee members also said there were more than 1,000 hectares of land currently used for illegal mining in the absence of proper vigilance by the Revenue and Mining Departments. Even rivers flowing in the region would be endangered if the activity was not brought under control at the earliest, they demanded.