Kerala to Review Black Sand Mining Practices
Kerala government plans to set up committee to review black sand mining practices amid rising environmental worries. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced this during Assembly,addressing concerns from legislator G. Sudhakaran.
In Assembly,Sudhakaran pushed for limiting sand extraction to estuaries and river mouths,excluding coasts. He criticized Indian Rare Earths and Kerala Metals and Minerals Ltd. (KMML) for their unclear reporting on sand volumes and recovery rates. And pointed out local panchayats get no share of mining profits,calling for more accountability.
Satheesan responded that state demands advance royalties on processed sand. KMML has paid over ₹8.5 crore,while IREL paid ₹4.71 crore. But despite these payments,he acknowledged ongoing concerns about mining,committing to a full review.
The upcoming inquiry will look into discrepancies in operations by both state and central companies in sand mining. Main goal: ensure environmental rules are followed and local communities benefit fairly from resources…
