The Hindu : Sand-mining law to be strictly enforced

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 14, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Sand-mining law to be strictly enforced

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Feb. 13. The Minister for Water Resources, T.M. Jacob, told the Assembly today that the law regulating sand-mining in the rivers of Kerala would be enforced strictly. If need be, they would also be amended in the greater interests of the rivers.

He said the royalty obtained from sand collection would be made use of specifically for the purpose of protection of the rivers, including their embankment.

The work on the Chmaravattom regulator-cum bridge project on the river Bharathapuzha in Malappuram district would commence in the next financial year.

A separate company had already been formed to expedite the work. Check dams and surface dykes would be built in all rivers for water conservation, the Minister said.

Inter-State water disputes: Making an announcement during the question hour, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, said the Government proposes to convene an all-party meeting to discuss issues relating to the inter-State water disputes. The meeting would be held during the current session of the House.

The strategy to be adopted by the State would be decided only after the meeting, he added.

A wrong impression had been created about Kerala being a water-surplus State. This was far from true. On the contrary, Kerala faced shortage of water, Mr. Antony said.

Replying to questions by several members on Tamil Nadu pressuring Kerala into sharing the waters of its rivers, the Water Resources Minister, T.M. Jacob, said that all such issues would be discussed with his counterpart in that State. There was no question of Kerala succumbing to any kind of pressure in this regard.

He also shared the view of the Chief Minister on Kerala not having surplus water as purported to be.

The inter-basin transfer of river waters would not be allowed by Kerala and this was purely a State subject. Therefore, there was no question of the Centre exerting pressure on Kerala to share its water resources with Tamil Nadu.

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