The Hindu : Demand to revoke bar on mining

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 10, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Demand to revoke bar on mining

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 9. The Kerala China Clay Mine Owners' Association has demanded that the suspension of the mining operations in Mangalapuram be lifted as, according to the association, the water scarcity in the area was not due to the mining operation.

Addressing a press conference here today, the association general secretary, E.A. Rasheed, the treasurer N.S. Babu, and others said the water scarcity in the region was due to the drought being witnessed in the State. The authorities had failed to utilise the funds from the State and Central Governments for implementing drinking water projects and they were now putting the blame on the 20 china mine owners, they said.

Mr. Rasheed said the wells located adjacent to the clay mines in Mangalapuram had plenty of water and only the wells in far-off areas were without water. The Santhigiri Ashram, located 5 km away, was taking water from the area. The mine owners were ready to cooperate with the steps being taken by the Government and the panchayat authorities to solve the problem, he said.

The former Director of the Mining and Geology Department and a mining consultant, John Samuel, who was also present at the press conference, said the water scarcity was not due to mining operations. According to him, the problem was due to the fact that the absorption of rainwater was poor in clayey soil. Only one per cent of the rich collection of china clay in the area had been excavated so far, he added.

The association office-bearers said the china clay found in the Mangalapuram locality was of world standard and they were paying crores of rupees as royalty and other fees to the Union and State Governments. As many as 1,000 workers were indirectly employed in the mines and they would be severely affected if the suspension of the mining operations was not revoked. All the rules and stipulations laid out for undertaking mining operations were being followed, they claimed.

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