The Hindu : Kerala News : Saving the rivers from the clutches of sand mafia peoplespeak

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Saturday, Nov 24, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Saving the rivers from the clutches of sand mafia peoplespeak

In spite of the State government’s regulatory efforts, indiscriminate sand- mining from river beds has been playing havoc with rivers as well as structures like bridges. The government is now considering a take-over of sand-mining, as Tamil Nadu did years ago. Our readers respond to the move:

Need to curb: Indiscriminate sand-mining has proved to be a threat to the rivers and bridges of the State.

People’s view matters

The step towards public sector controlled sand-mining that the State government has deciding to take can increase the availability of sand at a reasonable price, check the sand mafia and conduct sand-mining at scientific standards.

But, before implementing the decision the government should hold extensive discussions with all stakeholders including political parties, people representatives, and construction workers and must make sure that all decisions are free of political interest, corruption and are in the interest of the public.

The government should establish a powerful governing body that will keep track of the functioning of this proposal so that the powerful nexus between the politicians and the land mafia can be controlled.

Shashwat Shriparv

Thiruvananthapuram

Public asset

Rivers and lakes are assets of the state so they should not be given to private hands to exploit. The initiative of the government to put sand-mining in the public sector is progressive. The move will be a boon to the poor people aspiring to build homes with their small income. The eco-system of the rivers can be maintained, the exploitation of the sand mafia can be averted and the price per load of sand can be kept uniform though out the state. It is expected that sand-mining will be carried out scientifically. If so, the eco-system will be safe and secure.

N. Ramachandran

Vakkom

Look for an alternative

We have a number of perennial rivers with plenty of river sand but all these valuable sand mounds disappear overnight with the work of enthusiastic sand-miners. This is the only work going on regularly in all parts of Kerala, come rain or shine. Indiscriminate sand-mining deepens river beds and the banks collapse, resulting in floods and disappearance of water from the surface. Even the under- hand supply of sand from across the border falls short of our needs in construction. It is time that we looked for an alternative to sand. The coconut husk when beaten produces a large quantity of pitch which is dumped on river sides, polluting the rivers and creating environmental hazards. A new technology for using pitch for sand is a necessity.

K.P. Karunakaran Nair

Thiruvananthapuram

Follow rules

Indiscriminate sand-mining can be checked with the present rules and regulations. But the real problem lies with the slackness in implementation of the rules. Identified sand-mining centres alone should be used for the purpose. A separate squad may be constituted in all the police stations to meet the menace. The vehicles used for mining must be registered with the police. The chances for bribes must be curbed through checking and super checking as followed by the Excise Department. Local authorities must visit the locations and furnish valuable information to help the police and the district administration. The police must be taught of the repercussions of unauthorised sand-mining. Non-governmental and social organisations must be requested to cooperate with this venture. Broadcast and print media must be utilised against this social menace.

G. Muraleedharan

Vattiyoorkavu

Local vigilante

Kerala’s glory as the land of greenery and scenery, with 44 rivers adding to its attraction, will vanish if thoughtless sand-mining continues unchecked. Rivers will dry up, making drinking water a rare commodity. With the filtering quality of sand gone, water in adjoining wells and ponds will be poor in quality. A mega city like Kochi will be the worst-hit, once rivers succumb to sand-mining. Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran has announced that the Kerala Protection of River Bank and Regulation of Removal of Sand (KPRBRRS) Act 2001 will be amended to check the operations of the sand mafia, regulate sand-mining in a scientific manner, and make sand available at a reasonable price. But this alone will not serve the purpose. The local bodies that issue licences are manned by leaders and officials who cannot keep the mafia at bay and need the support of the local population and the district administration. Persons of proven probity in the locality should be roped in to ensure transparency in the process. Apart from the vigilance of the government machinery, the alertness of the people in the vicinity is a must to keep the mafia from plundering nature’s wealth.

N.K. Vijayan

Kizhakkambalam

Avoiding agents

The government taking over sand-mining in the State is a good idea. This will help those in need avoid agents. Nowadays, the middle man gets more than 50 per cent of the actual cost of the sand. The cost of sand is increasing day by day. If government-authorised agents mine and distribute sand, there will not be any malpractice, adjustments or bribes in this field. Even the Public Distribution System (PDS) can be used in this procedure. Those in need of sand can register at the panchayat or Corporation/municipality specifying their requirements and submitting the construction plan, so that agents cannot achieve anything in this transaction.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Kochi

Precious sand

Unlike the north Indian and peninsular rivers which have deposited huge quantities of sand and silt along their courses because of their sluggish flow for long distances through plains, Kerala rivers, due to their flow for short distances through high gradient terrains, have only limited sand deposits along their course. This limited resource falls far short of the actual demand of the construction activity in the State. The result is that not only has the price of sand soared beyond the reach of the common man, but also local sand mafias have come up, threatening social harmony. Under these circumstances, the government’s plan to bring sand-mining under the public sector is an inevitable and welcome step. But the primary step that the government has to take is to carry out thorough scientific investigations to know the quantum of sand available in each river basin, to what extent they can be extracted, how they can be extracted, and during which season, so that the damage caused to the environment and water resources is minimal.

K.V. Ravindran

Payyannur

Disconnect with nature

The uncontrolled mining of sand for various purposes has created a situation in which the synergy between nature and life has been lost, leading to disasters of various dimensions. We read almost daily about the danger to our dams and the fear of a catastrophe hovering above us. The criminalisation of sand-mining is a well known fact and the price that honest police officers and members of other regulatory authorities have to pay at times is very heavy. In order to keep nature in its pristine glory, it is absolutely necessary to have control over sand-mining and its trade. One remedy could be that the government itself gets into this business, lest it becomes another breeding ground for corrupt and unscrupulous people.

T.N. Ramachandran Nair

Thrissur

Risking a lot

Indiscriminate sand-mining remains a problem for the government despite all regulatory measures taken so far. The situation is aggravating day by day and those staying near river banks are panicking because of eroding embankments and wells going dry due to ecological imbalance in the area.

Similarly, a large number of bridges, especially those across the Manimala river and the Pampa river in the high lands in Pathanamthitta district, are at risk. Indiscriminate sand-mining has bared the basements of their pillars. It reduces the capability of the bridges to withstand heavy and fast flow of water, especially during monsoon, and jeopardises vehicular traffic and pedestrians.

The illegal business of indiscriminate sand-mining is flourishing under an established mafia network. It enjoys the political will of influential party leaders and the physical support of the militant labourers. Law enforcement officials are either evaded or bribed. Dutiful officials meet with political pressure or aggression.

R. Purushothaman Pillai

Mancombu

Unbreakable nexus

Rivers and bridges are very much affected by the uncontrolled sand-mining in Kerala; especially in Ernakulam. We have to find out some other material, replacing sand, for construction.

The government’s proposal to follow the system in Tamil Nadu by taking over sand-mining is a good step. Nobody is questioning this method in Tamil Nadu and all precautionary steps are taken there to protect the environment from the ill-effects of sand-mining.

It is not possible here because most of the sand-mining contractors are politicians or the relatives or friends of Ministers or party leaders. The government taking over sand-mining and selling the sand through government-authorised counters will reduce misuse and malpractice in sand mining.

Neelandon Kuruvattoor

Ottappalam

Passing the buck

Concrete or mortar simply requires their constituents to be hard, firm and chemically inert, and sand and stone to be in graded sizes so that gaps are filled up by particles of intermediate size.

Given this premise of construction, river sand is just one of the options of ‘fine aggregate.’ Therefore, we need not draw on any one resource so much as to exhaust it totally.

Moreover, modern construction practices gives priority to creating space, not bulk or weight; aesthetics being highlighted by sleekness rather than massiveness.

The solution, therefore, is in adopting such ideas rather than in letting a dirty job change hands.

Devraj Sambasivan

Alappuzha

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