Govt favours mineral sand mining: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the state assembly on Thursday that the Government did not agree with the suggestion that mineral sand mining should not be allowed.

However, the government had no stubborn stand on mining and the current issues on it would be solved amicably before taking a final decision, he said winding up the discussion on the report of the Justice K John Mathew commission on mineral sand mining.

Chandy said the state should exploit the mineral wealth properly. During monsoon season alone nearly 1.5 feet mineral sand would reach the shore and it could be collected with bare hands not requiring mining, he added.

Moving notice for discussion on the report, Industries Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju said nearly one lakh tonne mineral sand worth Rs 50 crore could be collected from Alappad and Arattupuzha coastal areas.

However, A N Rajan Babu (JSS), opposing the suggestion, said all the existing orders in this regard should be cancelled and a decision on sand mining should be taken only after a scientific study.

T K Devakumar (CPI-M) said no mining should be allowed along the Arattupuzha and Alappad coast.