Stop mineral trafficking to Kerala in 20 days: BJP

Coimbatore: State BJP president K Annamalai on Sunday gave the state government an ultimatum to stop smuggling of mineral resources into Kerala through the inter-state border in Coimbatore district in 20 days. He also warned to deploy BJP cadres at all the 11 check posts along the border after the 20-day period, if the state government failed to stop the smuggling.
Leading a protest at Arasampalayam Pirivu near Kinathukadavu here to condemn the state government for its failure to prevent the smuggling of mineral resources, he said many stone quarries and crusher units were functioning at Madukkarai, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi and Anaimalai, from where at least 12,000 units of sand and stones were being illegally smuggled into Kerala every day. Thousands of BJP cadres participated in the protest.
A private mafia has been illegally smuggling the mineral sources into the neighbouring state through the 11 check posts in Coimbatore by forging trip sheets and deploying its personnel at the check posts, he said.
“If we do not stop the smuggling of mineral resources, Pollachi and surrounding areas will resemble a desert in 10 years. We are providing 20 days to the state government to stop the smuggling. Otherwise, I will sit at one of the check posts, while deploying the party cadres at the remaining check posts, to verify the trip sheet thoroughly and prevent smuggling of mineral resources into Kerala,” Annamalai said.
Pegging the revenue that the state government generates yearly at 1.8 lakh crore, he said 900 crore of that was earned from mineral resources. “The DMK government is illegally earning thousands of crores rupees by smuggling mineral resources into Kerala. The government has been maintaining a close relationship with the communist leaders in Kerala. So, it is not taking any steps to prevent the smuggling,” the BJP leader said.
Annamalai also requested people to vote for the BJP in the 2024 parliamentary election and promised that the party would stand by them.