The Hindu : High drama at water meet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

High drama at water meet

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MARCH 13. The Water Resources Minister, T.M. Jacob, has said that steps will be taken soon to ban sand-mining in seven rivers of the State.

Addressing a meeting convened here to discuss the water shortage with people's representatives and the District Collector, Gyanesh Kumar, the Minister said that both short-term and long-term projects would be launched to counter drought. The meeting was attended by the Mayor, C.M. Dinesh Mani, and a host of MLAs and others.

There was high drama at the meeting when the issue of rampant sand-mining was brought to the notice of the Minister by the MLAs, T.H. Musthafa and K. Mohammed Ali. There was a war-of-words between the panchayat representatives and the District Collector.

They said that the district administration was not doing anything worthwhile to stop illegal sand-mining. They also alleged that the Collector was hand in glove with the sand lobby. The Collector retorted that he was yet to receive any complaints from people's representatives, following which Mr. Musthafa said that he had sent 56 complaints in this regard.

The Collector wondered why Mr. Musthafa was shouting at him and demanded an apology from him. He also threatened to walk out of the meeting. Some of the MLAs who were present there joined the issue and this led to unruly scenes. The Minister adjourned the meeting following the incidents. Another war-of-words took place between K. Babu, MLA and the Keezhmedu panchayat president with both alleging one another of having nexus with the sand mafia.

The Minister, later, convened a press conference after discussion with the Collector and said that the matter was highly unfortunate. He exhorted all parties to speak with respect to each other.

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