Anti-mining committee at Alappad to continue stir
Sreekumar said mineral sand mining or the profit out of it was none of their concern.
Thiruvananthapuram: The anti-mining action committee at Alappad has decided to continue its agitation till mineral sand mining is completely stopped.
The decision was announced by committee convener K.C. Sreekumar soon after the talks with Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan failed to resolve the issue. “Our only demand is that sea sand mining should be stopped completely. The minister spoke about the precious mineral sand, industry and jobs of workers at stake. For us, it is a question of life and death for 25,000 people living at Alappad,” Sreekumar told mediapersons.
Apart from suspending sea washing for a month, the government decided to constitute an expert committee headed by leading scientist T.N. Prakash of the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) to conduct a scientific study in the area and submit a detailed report, a monitoring committee headed by the district collector and steps to construct and strengthen the sea wall and breakwater. However, the committee stuck to its demand for a complete ban on mining.
Sreekumar said the minister’s stand was undemocratic. He was making statements based on wrong inputs being provided by certain quarters. “The minister has promised to visit the area. Let him come personally and understand our grievances and problems,” he added.
Sreekumar said mineral sand mining or the profit out of it was none of their concern. “We want to live and die here. Our next generation has to survive here. But the government is denying justice to us,” he said.
The Assembly committee had studied the mining issue at Alappad in detail following a complaint filed by the local people. “The Assembly committee report has not been made public for the past 11 month,” he said.