CPM takes up sand mining issue in a big way

KANNUR: Amidst the allegations of widespread corruption and mafia involvement in sand mining in the district, the CPM organised on Tuesday a 'jalayathra' (boat journey) calling for protecting Valappattanam River here from the environmental disaster due to sand mining and also to prevent illegal sand mining in the district.
The campaign assumes significance because it is seen as a major shift in the party's stand in such issues.
Recently the Vigilance had filed a case against president and others of CPM-ruled Malappattam panchayath in connection with the multi-crore irregularities in sand distribution, and this campaign is seen as an effort to save the party from further embarrassment by strictly warning the party-ruled panchayath authorities to adhere to the rules.
"Of course, the jalayathra was a huge success and the people's response was immense," said CPM district secretary P Jayarajan, who led the campaign which began from Parassinikkadavu and concluded at Pavannurkadavu. "We got nearly 55 memorandums from the people including local residents and sand mining labourers and we are working out an action plan to address these issues and it would be submitted to the government."
While the ban in some kadavus has rendered the labourers jobless, in many places the indiscriminate sand mining has affected the ecosystem and this should be addressed, he added.
Though Rs 50 per metric tonne is charged as River Management Fund, it is not properly distributed to the panchayaths and municipalities, he said. "If this is given, walls could be built in places where the erosion is high and also mangroves could be planted to prevent further erosion," opined Jayarajan.
Also, illegal sand mining in rampant in the district and the police inaction should be blamed for this, he opined.
Interestingly the campaign has been launched on the same day when the ban on sand mining was lifted by the district administration and the sand mining began in the district.
"The main aim of the campaign is to sensitise the people about the importance of protecting Valappattanam river and the tiny islands that are on the verge of disaster due to indiscriminate sand mining," said Jayarajan.
CPM leaders James Mathew, MLA, Biju Kandakai and T K Govindan among others also accompanied him.