Abstract: Ever increasing human requirements and economic developments impose immense pressure on the natural resource base. Kerala state with an area of 38,863 Sq. km is one of the densely populated regions of the world having limited land and non-renewable resource availability. Indiscriminate resource extraction creates serious environmental problems which need to be tackled judiciously by striking a balance between the degree and need for development, and the extent of environmental degradation based on scientific studies. This is essential so as to utilize the natural resources to meet human needs and economic growth on one side and preserve environmental integrity, on the other. The present paper deals with the environmental impacts of soil quarrying from the hills of Central Kerala, especially around Kochi City, one of the fast developing urban-cum-industrial centres in southwest India. A set of recommendations are also given in order to ensure sustainable management of this nature’s gift.