THIRUVANANTHAPURAM | Aug 19, 2015: Probe into allegations of illegal sand mining, involving high-valued silica sand from the proposed Telecom City of Kerala Small Industries Development Corporation Ltd (SIDCO) at Menamkulam, is at a crossroads. The investigation into the high-level scam, where the government had incurred a loss of `5.19 crore due to illegal sand mining, is allegedly delayed despite the High Court’s directives in this regard.

The state government is yet to issue sanctions to the demand by Vigilance, which is probing the issue.

The SIDCO had proposed a Telecom City at Menamkulam near here, to bring telecom equipment manufacturers, software developers and others under one umbrella.

As per the FIR submitted before the court, the government incurred a loss of `5.19 crore following illegal sand mining. The government had, in 2009-10, accepted SIDCO’s proposal to start a Telecom Park in 25 acres of land at Meenamkulam and the work was awarded to a contractor based in New Delhi for `11 crore.

It was alleged that though the contract was given for removing sand from 19 acres at a depth of one metre, the contractor violated the terms.

Contrary to the contract, sand from 25 acres of land was removed from a depth of 25 metres. It was also alleged that when the actual cost of the sand was over `63.2 crore, the tender was awarded for a mere `11 crore.

(Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/)