ALAPPUZHA: The lingering discord between CPM and CPI over deep-sea sand mining has hit a new low with the CPI-affiliated AITUC deciding to launch a public protest. K. P. Rajendran, state general secretary, AITUC, would inaugurate a satyagraha in front of the Secretariat on April 18.
It was on March 6 that industries minister A.C. Moideen had told the Assembly that a survey would be conducted by the Geological Survey of India to identify the offshore locations with the potential for sand mining.
T. J. Anjalose, state president, Matsya Thozhilali Federation (AITUC), also CPI district secretary, said the federation would not allow the government to conduct the feasibility study at the expense of the exchequer. "This is our long-standing decision,” he said. “We declared the stand at our state conference last month at Angamali. Countries like Indonesia had abandoned this."
The minister proposed it as Kerala was facing acute shortage of sand for construction. A.K. Baby, district president of Matsya Thozhilali Congress, also warned of a violent agitation against sand mining.
"Cutting across political lines, we have decided unanimously to oppose it," he said.
Alappuzha coastal belt has a long history of protests against onshore mineral sand mining since the government agreed to lease out for 20 years a 17-km stretch of coasts for the purpose to the KREML, a state’s joint venture with a private firm having a majority stake in it. A prolonged agitation saw the then Chief Minister A.K. Antony revoking the decision.
