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No private firm in sand-mining: Karim

Staff Reporter

`Government will not allow mineral sand misuse'

KOZHIKODE: Industries Minister Elamaram Karim has said the Left Front Government will abide by its professed policy in the area of mineral sand-mining. Any order in contravention of this dictum will be revoked.

Addressing mediapersons here on Friday, Mr. Karim described "totally misleading" reports in a section of the media that a Government order dated May 25, 2005, had accorded sanction to a private enterprise to mine sand.

He said the Government was not opposed to exploiting the immense commercial and export possibilities of mineral sand through value-added products, but would not allow the misuse of the commodity by private parties to reap huge profits.

"The Government has not even the remotest intention to allow private participation in mineral sand-mining," the Minister added.

He said the file based on the said order could have been passed by an additional secretary.

The issue was being examined and action would be taken if any administrative procedure had been flouted.

Mr. Karim said just as the order of the former Government to close down the Malabar Spinning and Weaving Mills was revoked by the LDF, this order too would be revoked.

"I have not seen the file with the order. In fact, the process of examining the files by the new administration began only by June 10."

"The Principal Secretary, Industries, too is not aware of such an order on sand-mining sanctioned to a private party," he added.

He said the Industries Department was preparing a report on the issue. The public sector Indian Rare Earths too would prepare a report on the controversy raised.

Mr. Karim clarified that the Industries Department during the tenure of the former Government had also closed a file relating to a proposal by the Indian Rare Earths for further mining of mineral sand in seven hectares.

The Industries Department had chosen not to sanction the PSU proposal. This Government had no role in this order either.

While the Indian Rare Earths mined the sand for export, no operations for value addition were being carried out by it.

The quality of the sand available in the Alappuzha-Kollam coast was rich in mineral content when compared to that found on Tamil Nadu or Sri Lanka coast.

"Though the policy of the LDF is to market the natural resource only through the public sector, the details are yet to be worked out."

On the issue of appointment of chief executive officers for the PSUs, the Minister said the process would be carried out through a special selection board comprising experts.

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