The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Govt shelves GO on mineral sand mining

While putting the order on hold, the Government also decided to constitute a committee of experts to look into the environmental aspects of the project.

Thiruvananthapuram , Sept. 22

THE State Cabinet has decided to keep in abeyance any further proceedings on the controversial Government Order on mineral sand mining along the Alappuzha coast.

The order, which approves granting of mining lease to Kerala Rare Earths and Minerals Ltd (KREML), a joint sector company, subject to certain conditions, had raised concerns over the likely environmental impact of the project.

The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, while putting the order on hold, also decided to constitute a committee of experts to look into the environmental aspects of the project and submit a report to the Government.

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting that the Government would hold discussions with the people's representatives on the committee's report before taking a final decision on the project. He, however, said there was no proposal to set a timeframe for the committee to submit the report.

The Chief Minister said that expert studies had already been conducted on the project twice earlier and the decision to carry out another study was in line with the Government's commitment to honour the feelings of the people.

He said the Government did not find anything wrong with the project. But, at the same time, it did not want to be dragged into any controversy on account of it.

Mr Chandy added that the Government would hold an in-camera meeting with the Opposition leaders on October 5 on a wide range of issues such as restructuring public sector undertakings, self-financing educational institutions and the problems faced by the farmers. The Cabinet also decided to sanction Rs 20.5 crore to the Cashew Development Corporation to help it settle its liabilities with the consortium of banks. This would enable the corporation to reopen the cashew factories and resume operations at the earliest.

Mr Chandy said a meeting with top officials of the Railways had been scheduled for October 7 to work out the modalities for acquisition of the land required for doubling the railway lines in the State.

The Revenue Minister, Mr K.M. Mani, and the Minister in-charge of Railways and Forests, Mr K.P. Viswanathan, would represent the Government at the meeting.

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