Kuttippuram: As the recent rain-induced floods re-deposited large quantities of sand in the river system, illegal sand mining has once again become rampant in the Bharathapuzha.
The pace of mining along the river basin has intensified over the last few weeks after the floodwaters receded. As truckloads of sand are collected from the riverbed on a daily basis in blatant violation of rules, several houses along the banks of the river and bathing ghats have come under the police scanner.
Though the law enforces have conducted surprise checks at the riverbank in Changanamkadavu, Malloorkadavu, Manjadi, Rangattoor, Perassannur, Thoavanoor, Madirassery, and Alinchuvadu over the last few days, illegal extraction continues unabated, creating deep pits in the riverbed.
Miners, who have already extracted boatloads of sand dumped by the floodwaters, charge up to Rs 200 per bag. Innumerable sand dunes have appeared on the river banks as a result of the raging waters, with some of them even straying into the puramboke land at some locations along the river.
The office-bearers of the Bharathapuzha Protection Committee pointed out that truckloads of sand could be seized if the officials concerned conducted raids at some of the houses and ghats in the area.
Action plan remains on paper
Though the revenue and police departments, as per the directions of Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel, had devised several measures to curb unauthorised sand-mining in Bharathapuzha, none of them were implemented.
A decision had been taken by the cabinet to hire speed boats for patrolling in the river as part of the government’s efforts to check illegal sand mining effectively, but the project is yet to take off. Though the Tourism Department’s speed boat operating in Mini Pampa could be used for the purpose, the police claimed that no funds were allocated for purchasing fuel for operating the boat.
Also, it was announced that a yard would be identified to keep the confiscated vehicles, the promise has far remained unfulfilled.
Currently, only routine raids are being conducted by police personnel in areas that come under their station jurisdiction. Though the cabinet meeting had instructed local bodies to conduct awareness programmes against illegal sand mining, none, other than the Tavanur panchayat authorities, responded to the call.
Committee to conserve the river
With an objective of protecting the Bharathapuzha and to put an end to unscientific sand mining, a river protection committee, under the aegis of Tavanur panchayat, has been constituted. The committee, headed by the panchayat president, would convene special grama sabhas in wards located along the banks of the river to sensitise the general public to the ill-effects of illegal sand quarrying.
