Agencies smuggling mineral sand to TN: Min
tnn | Feb 1, 2019, 23:53 ISTThiruvananthapuram: Industries minister E P Jayarajan told the assembly on Friday that outsiders were involved in the agitation against mineral sand mining at Alappad, and that putting an end to the mining activities was against the state’s interests.
“The government and two companies (IRE and KMML) are committed to protect the interests of residents and formulate a rehabilitation package if required. But, majority of those who are taking part in the agitation are not residents of Alappad,” the minister said while replying to a calling attention motion moved by Karunagappally MLA R Ramachandran on the mining issue and agitation at Vellanathuruthu of Alappad panchayat.
The minister also alleged that illegal agencies were involved in smuggling mineral sand from the area to Tamil Nadu via sea and land routes.
Citing a preliminary scrutiny by the government on mining, the minister said loss of 9.95 hectres coastal land in Alappad panchayat (now with a total area of 681.97 hectres) was due to Tsunami and not because of coastal erosion triggered by sand mining as being alleged by the protesters. “Sand mining and sea washing were being carried out only on a half-a-kilometre stretch of the total 16.5km coastline,” he pointed out.
However, the government would initiate further talks to solve any issues being faced by the residents, Jayarajan said. “The Karunagappally MLA and I will visit the place soon to take stock of the situation,” he said. tnn
“The government and two companies (IRE and KMML) are committed to protect the interests of residents and formulate a rehabilitation package if required. But, majority of those who are taking part in the agitation are not residents of Alappad,” the minister said while replying to a calling attention motion moved by Karunagappally MLA R Ramachandran on the mining issue and agitation at Vellanathuruthu of Alappad panchayat.
The minister also alleged that illegal agencies were involved in smuggling mineral sand from the area to Tamil Nadu via sea and land routes.
Citing a preliminary scrutiny by the government on mining, the minister said loss of 9.95 hectres coastal land in Alappad panchayat (now with a total area of 681.97 hectres) was due to Tsunami and not because of coastal erosion triggered by sand mining as being alleged by the protesters. “Sand mining and sea washing were being carried out only on a half-a-kilometre stretch of the total 16.5km coastline,” he pointed out.
However, the government would initiate further talks to solve any issues being faced by the residents, Jayarajan said. “The Karunagappally MLA and I will visit the place soon to take stock of the situation,” he said. tnn
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