The Hindu Business Line : Mineral sand mining not cause for tsunami tragedy, says KMML

THE killer tsunami waves which devastated the coastal belt in Kerala's southern districts of Kollam and Alapuzha seem to have spared the area where mineral sand mining is carried out by Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML) at Chavara in Kollam. Its mineral separation plant at the waterfront is still in tact and functioning, according to official sources.

Refuting the allegations that the natural calamity has happened because of mineral sand mining in the coastal belt there, Mr K.P. Rajendran, Managing Director, KMML, told Business Line on Tuesday that the company had been allotted blocks 1,3,5 and 7 on the 22-km stretch of the coast from Neendakara to Karunagappally and this area has not been affected by the tsunami waves.

"We have our mineral separation plant close to the sea and it was not hit by the waves. On the other hand, we have started mining only in block 3 which has not been hit by waves".

Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IRE) has blocks 2,4,6 and 8. Mining has yet to start in blocks 5,6 and 7, he said. "There is no logic in saying that mineral sand mining is responsible for the present natural calamity," he said.

Mining in these blocks would commence only after rehabilitating the inhabitants in the area, he said.

"One of the worst hit areas is near block 5. " It was a pleasant morning and being Sunday, the children were playing on the sandy beach. Suddenly the seawater receded by around 300 metres. The children seeing this unusual phenomenon became enthusiastic and ran behind the receding waters. They were joined by the elders nearby. But within seconds block of sea water at about 6 metre height crashed in to the shore sweeping these people and every thing in the area away," Mr Rajendran said.

It was in Alappad Panchayat under Karunagappally Taluk where large number of people lost their lives. It has nothing to do with the sand mining, he said.

The death toll in Kollam district alone has crossed 135.

On hearing the disaster, the company had immediately swung in to rescue and rehabilitation operations using its staff, vehicles and even boats. The affected were moved in to relief centres in Karugappally. Its guest-house has been made available to senior officials for camping and supervising rescue and relief operations, he said.

The company, he said, has been providing food to around 12,000 people accommodated in the schools in the area from Sunday.

"In fact the Chief Minister, who visited the area on Monday has appreciated KMML for its timely humanitarian act," he added.

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