The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Sudheeran demands cancellation of all decisions on mining

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Sudheeran demands cancellation of all decisions on mining

Staff Reporter

Says Government's credibility has been affected

KOCHI: Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran has asked the Government to cancel all decisions taken in connection with the issue of mineral sand mining in the coastal villages of Arattupuzha and Thrikunnapuzha in Alappuzha district.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Sudheeran urged the Government to take initiative in cancelling the clearance given for mining to the Kerala Rare Earths and Minerals by the Ministry of Coal and Mines in Thrikunnapuzha and Purakad panchayat.

The Ministry would not have given clearance for mining without getting the nod from the State Government, he said.

He said that the people in Arattupuzha and Thrikunnapuzha would unitedly resist all attempts by the Government to go ahead with its decision to start mining in these areas. "The Government's credibility has been affected following its stand on the mining issue. It should try to understand the feelings of the people," he said. Mr. Sudheeran said that the Government should reject the report of the Justice John Mathew Committee that was appointed to study the feasibility of allowing mining in the coastal villages of Arattupuzha and Thrikunnapuzha.

"The Government should appoint a committee comprising experts in areas like oceanography, environmental science and fisheries. The Justice John Mathew committee did not have such members to study the impact of mining on coastal villages," he said.

Mr. Sudheeran said that the UDF Government should try to learn lessons from the defeat suffered in the recent.

"The Government should not act in accordance with the interests of the mineral sand mining lobby. Members of Parliament from the State should also exert pressure on the Centre not to give clearance for mining in the coastal villages of Arattupuzha and Thrikunnapuzha," he said.

Residents at Arattupuzha, Thrikunnapuzha will resist mining

Initiate steps to cancel clearance given for mining by Centre

Government should reject John Mathew Committee report

Appoint a new committee of experts to study the impact of mining

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