Kerala - Alappuzha   

Sudheeran rues delay in cancelling order on mining

Staff Reporter

Congress leader says no action even after two weeks of ordering inquiry

ALAPPUZHA: The Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran has demanded that the State Government keep the promise made by the Left Democratic Front during the Assembly elections that it would not allow mining of mineral sand by the private sector.

He has sought cancellation of an order, issued by a Government secretary, granting permission for such mining.

At a press conference here on Monday, Mr. Sudheeran said Minister for Industries Elamaram Karim was trying to go ahead with the permission by saying that it had been granted during the rule of the previous United Democratic Front Government. Though Mr. Karim had said that he had ordered an inquiry by a Principal Secretary into the issue, no action had been taken even two weeks after the Minister's statement.

He said the delay was giving rise to doubt that the Government was trying to allow private-sector mining by putting the blame on the previous Government. Moreover, the official entrusted with the inquiry had, on an earlier occasion, taken a favourable stand for giving license for mining to the private sector. Mr. Sudheeran said there were several leaders in the Left Democratic Front, including Ministers, who opposed mining by the private sector, and they should take the initiative to get the order cancelled in the coming Cabinet meeting. The MPs from the State should also take the initiative in the issue; or else, the Union Government might give permission for mining in private sector.

Mr. Sudheeran said the Government had failed to take meaningful action in a case of attack on excise officials by the spirit lobby at Kariyilakkulamgara, near Kayamkulam.

The main accused were still at large, and the investigating team could not find for whom the seized spirit arrived at Kariyilakkulamgara.

Moreover, the police and the excise department had no clues on the network of the spirit lobby.

He demanded that the Government prove its commitment to control the menace of illicit liquor by nabbing the culprits.

On custodial deaths reported from various parts of the State, Mr. Sudheeran said the Government should hold the heads of jails or police stations responsible for them.

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