The Hindu : Kerala News : Further action on sand-mining stopped

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Further action on sand-mining stopped

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 22. The Cabinet today decided to stop further action on the order issued by the Industries Department giving the green signal to Kerala Rare Earths and Minerals, Aluva, for mining mineral sand from the Alappuzha coast.

The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, told presspersons after the Cabinet meeting that though the Industries Department had acted correctly, the matter was being kept in abeyance in view of public concern.

Scientific study

A scientific study, the Chief Minister said, would be conducted into the environmental impact of the mining proposal. Further, steps would be taken only after discussing the issue with people's representatives and those concerned after the completion of the study. Clearance for the mining would be subject to the verdict in the case before the High Court and the approval of the Cabinet.

Mr. Chandy said that his proposals on the mining order had been approved by the Cabinet unanimously without a discussion. He said the Industries Minister, P. K. Kunhalikutty, had an open mind on the matter. The decision to stop further proceedings over the order was taken not because the order was wrong, but because the Government could not convince everyone that it had done the right thing.

He said that the Department had only proceeded in the normal manner in issuing the Government order. It was done after consulting the Advocate General on the basis of the High Court order. Following the Central decision to open up mining of mineral sands to the private sector, the State Government had insisted that licences for mining would be granted only to joint sector companies with a equity holding of 26 per cent by the Government. The Government won the case filed by private companies against the decision. The order was issued in tune with the Court directives in the case and was subject to the final decision by the Court.

Anti-filarial drug

By another decision, the Cabinet postponed the mass administration of the anti-filarial drug, diethyl dicarbamazene, in 11 districts scheduled for September 24. The Chief Minister said an expert team would look into the side-effects of the drug and other issues connected with mass drug administration before the Government went ahead with the programme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section