The Hindu : Kerala News : Sand mafia out to shift Collector?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Sand mafia out to shift Collector?

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, OCT. 11. The Revenue Ministry is said to be under pressure from the sand mafia seeking a `favourable' change of guard in the hill district of Pathanamthitta.

The sand mafia in the Pampa river basin, which allegedly enjoys the patronage of some Kerala Congress(M) leaders, is learnt to have made deft `political' moves for the shifting of the District Collector, Rabeendra Kumar Agarwal.

What makes the sand mafia flex its muscle against the Collector is his stern stand not to concede to the demand for inclusion of certain `vulnerable' kadvus in the Pampa in the list of permitted kadavus for regulated sand-mining.

The public mood here appears to be one of supporting the district administration's stance. They are against any change of guard in the district, especially when the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season is round the corner.

It is alleged that a Kerala Congress(M) leader who wields considerable clout in the Revenue Ministry has been brokering for the sand mafia. The immediate provocation for the sand mafia is said to be the district administration's reluctance to include a private kadavu in the close vicinity of the Cherukolpuzha bridge in the list of kadavus for regulated sand-mining.

The Cherukolpuzha Sandbed Protection Council has already urged the Collector not to permit sand-mining from Kandankorathu private kadavu.

MLA writes to Chandy

Meanwhile, the local MLA, K.K. Nair, said he had already written to the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, that any change of guard in the revenue or police administration in the district at this juncture would adversely affect the smooth conduct of the pilgrim season at Sabarimala. The Government, he said, should strengthen the hands of the Collector in his fight against the sand mafia.

Meanwhile, with hardly 40 days left for his retirement and disregarding the pilgrim season, the Additional District Magistrate, N. Vijayan, was shifted to a less important post at the Collectorate last month. Mr. Muhammedkutty from Palakkad was posted for the first time in Pathanamthitta as ADM a few weeks ago. Ironically, he too is retiring on October 31.

There are also widespread allegations on the `inaction' of the heads of the revenue sub-divisions at Thiruvalla and Adoor. The Thiruvalla RDO is to retire this month.

There are allegations that every transfer and posting in the district takes place on the basis of the `directions' of the KC(M) district president.

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