Mineral sand mining heats up Kerala politics

Kerala govt decides to approach SC against high court verdict permitting private and joint sector companies to mine mineral beach sands along the state's coast

The Kerala government has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the high court verdict permitting private and joint sector companies to mine mineral beach sands along the state's coast.

On Friday, the division bench of Kerala high court had dismissed the appeal filed by the state government, challenging a previous single bench order permitting the private sector to undertake mineral sand mining in the state.

The verdict of the division bench had snowballed into a political controversy in the state with a slew of green activists and a section of political leaders, including KPCC president VM Sudheeran, opposing the entry of private sector in mineral sand mining citing environmental hazards.

At present, only two companies in the public sector enjoy the right to mine mineral sand. The court's judgement created controversy in the United Democratic Front (UDF) as it alleged the government appealed against the Single Bench order after 18 months.

TN Prathapan, a Congress MLA, has criticised the advocate general (AG) for the state's delay in filing an appeal against the previous single bench order. He urged the chief minister to take action against the AG. He even alleged the AG's delayed response was deliberate to 'help' the private sector lobby.

Shibu Baby John, minister for labour, who comes from the Chavara constituency in Kollam district, where mineral sand is abundant, said, mining in the private sector would not be allowed at any cost.

Kerala's sea coast, especially Kollam and Alappuzha, has abundant mineral sand comprising monazite and elmanate. Presence of thorium, a rare mineral, has was detected in some areas.

Locals in Alappuzha and Kollam are strongly resisting the entry of the private sector as it badly hit the ecosystem of the coastal belt besides endangering several species of marine organisms. This will also affect the livelihoods of fishermen in the coastal area.

The high court division bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice Mathew P Joseph last week directed the state government to consider the 29 applications pending of the private sector and other companies seeking permission for mineral sand mining.