Sand Mining May Resume in Kerala

River Sand Mining is going to be resumed in the state for about 6 months. Sand-mining was stopped in the State for the past three months after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered Environment Clearance (EC) for it. The decision to resume sand-mining for six months was taken at a meeting convened by Environment Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Wednesday.

District Collectors have been asked to furnish the data in the absence of current audit report as mandated by the Kerala Protection of River Banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act 2011. The Act also stipulates that the Revenue Department shall carryout sand audit once in three years. However, no serious efforts have gone into this aspect, officials say.

The government had cleared a request from Kannur district after the district administration had obtained the EC. The SEIAA had earlier rejected the requests from Malappuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode for sand mining. The Collectors of these districts were asked to file details of sand mined from each ghat in their areas and utilisation of River Management Fund.

Src- http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/river-sand-mining-may-be-resumed-for-6-months/article5836820.ece

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