The Hindu : Local bodies fail to curb illegal activity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Local bodies fail to curb illegal activity

By Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

PATHANAMTHITTA, MARCH 14. Illegal sand-quarrying from the riverbeds of Pampa, Manimala and Achencoil continues unabated even as Central Travancore reels under an acute drought-like situation.

Though local bodies are empowered to curb excessive exploitation of river sand under the Kerala Sand Mining Regulation and Protection of River Banks Act 2001, many local bodies have been found acquiescing the illegal activity. It is alleged that a large number of local body members in the region are hand-in-glove with the sand mafia in plundering the rivers. Reports suggest that the sand mafia, which takes away about 1,000 lorry-loads of sand from the three major rivers a day, has been unleashing a reign of terror in the river basins of late. Goons of the mafia attacking villagers and harassing women taking bath in the rivers have become regular features in the district.

There are reports that many panchayat members in the district own lorries or tempo vans, either in their own name or in `benami' names. Of late, there have been several instances of the police seizing sand-laden lorries owned by local body members and politicians coming out in the open against upright revenue, police and panchayat staff.

The drastic fall in water level in these rivers facilitates entry of lorries and tempos into the riverbed to smuggle sand.

Sand-quarrying from the close vicinity of piers of road and rail bridges has affected the safety of many a bridge in the district. Many pump houses of the Kerala Water Authority have been closed down following the drying up of the rivers. With virtually no flow, these rivers have become stagnant pools in many stretches. To add to the problems, there is the dumping of waste from chicken corners, slaughterhouses, hotels and hospitals in the rivers.

Illegal sand-quarrying is rampant in the Pampa in many parts of Thiruvalla taluk, especially Parumala and its surrounding areas, the upper reaches of the Manimala basin, especially in the Anicaud, Kottangal, Puramattom, Mallappaly and Kalloopara panchayat limits in Pathanamthitta district and in Vellavoor panchayat in the adjoning Kottayam district. Sand is ferried in country boats from the Anicaud panchayat limits and transported in lorries parked on the other bank of the river which falls in Vellavoor panchayat.

The Manimalayar Samrakshana Samiti general ecretary, V.N. Gopinatha Pillai, alleges that the revenue, panchayat and police authorities in Kottayam district have been openly backing the quarrying of sand from the Manimala for the past several years. The Pampa Parirakshana Samiti general secretary, N.K. Sukumaran Nair, blames the panchayat authorities for the plight of the rivers.

It is said that cellular phones have come in handy for the sand mafia to run its operations safely. It is said that some staff in the police stations and revenue offices in the district are paid regularly to keep the mafia informed of any plans for raids. Incidents of the mafia goons extending their criminal activities to nearby towns have also been reported in recent times.

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