A boat journey by Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders in the district, led by district secretary P. Jayarajan, covering major sand-mining points (kadavus) along the Valapattanam river on Tuesday drove home the message that sand-mining workers and local residents should be sensitive to the environmental problems involved in excess sand extraction from the riverbed.
The boat journey, organised as part of the party’ s campaign against illegal sand-mining in the area, began from Parassinikkadavu here on Tuesday morning after accepting complaints and representations from workers and local residents.
The team visited Parakkalkadavu, Valluvankadavu, Parassinippalam, Nanissery, Mullakkodi, Kanakaikadavu, Parippinkadavu, Pavannurkadavu, and Kolthuruthi island. The kadavus covered by the campaign tour included some in the CPI(M)-ruled panchayats such as Mayyil and Pappinissery.
In his address at various points, Mr. Jayarajan said that sand-mining workers themselves would be the victims of environmental problems because of excessive mining in the river.
He said the State government, the district administration, the local panchayats concerned, the public, and the workers should take steps to check sand-mining in excess of the permitted volume.
At Kolthuruthi, the residents told the party leaders that they were already facing problems because of excessive mining in the kadavus around the area. The problems included salinity intrusion into water resources, they said.
The CPI(M) leaders said that 55 complaints were received during the campaign that concluded at the Pavannurkadavu at 3 p.m. James Mathew, MLA; CPI(M) Mayyil area secretary T.K. Govindan; Democratic Youth Federation of India leader Biju Kandakkai; and P. Balan were among those who participated in the campaign.
