Southern States - Kerala   

Illegal sand-mining unabated

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA Sept. 30. Though Revenue authorities filled a number of large pits on the sandbed of the river Pampa at Cherukolpuzha near Kozhencherry the other day, illegal river sand-mining continues to take place unabated in the locality, it is alleged.

The pits were formed during illegal sand-mining from the riverbed violating all the prevailing rules and regulations.

During his visit to Pathanamthitta a month ago, the Director General of Police had stated that the main role of the police was to provide security, if asked for, to the Revenue as well as the Mining and Geology officials in the implementation of the River Bank Protection and Regulation of Sand Mining Act-2001.

Various environmentalists have alleged that the DGP's statement had sent a `wrong message' to the sand mafia that the role of police in checking the river sand smuggling was a `limited' one.

Illegal sand-mining is said to be a brisk business on the sandbeds of Maramon and Cherukolpuzha, especially during night hours. Various NGOs and religious organisations have strongly protested against the official `inaction' against the illegal sand-mining from the sandbeds of Maramon and Cherukolpuzha, the venues of the famous annual Christian and Hindu conventions in the State.

The Hindu Matha Mahamandalam that organises the annual Hindu meet at Cherukolpuzha for the past nine decades has already formed an action council and has decided to launch a `vibrant campaign' against the illegal activity.

The Mar Thoma Evangelical Society, that organises the century-old Maramon convention billed as the largest Christian convention in Asia, has expressed deep concern over the sand smuggling from the river stretch.

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