The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) has urged the government to adopt responsible mining practices at Alappad to minimise the environmental impact of mineral sand extraction.
A press note quoting KSSP president T. Gangadharan and general secretary T.K. Meerabhai on Wednesday said the sand mining activities at Alappad had accelerated the accretion of land due to sea level rise and climate change factors.
“The high density of land in the coastal area and the accelerated erosion of land have led to concerns among the coastal population.”
Pointing out that the efforts of the government and public sector mining companies to alleviate these concerns had failed to yield results, they called for a monitoring committee to keep a constant tab on the environmental impact of mining.
The press note stressed the need for a long-term mining plan. It called for better coastal protection and a shift to deep mining practices to minimise the impact of sea washing.
The KSSP also urged the government to formulate a settlement plan for coastal communities in vulnerable stretches.
