KOCHI | Jun 12, 2015:
The completion of sand auditing paves the way for resuming sand mining in Periyar.– File photo
Sand auditing of the Periyar river system is complete after about three years of studies conducted by the Kochi-based Centre for Socio-Economic and Environmental Studies under the supervision of State River Management Cell and National Centre for Earth Sciences Studies.
The completion of the study paves the way for resuming sand mining in the river. “It is estimated that a total of 61,949 cubic metres of sand can be mined from the river,” said an official release.
Sources said sand mining had been allowed only up to two metres depth with the summer water level as the reference point.
The release said the State government had issued instructions to the District Collector to permit sand mining for the next three years.
The audit report has recommended the total quantum of sand that can be mined from the river in various panchayats. Sand mining will not be permitted within the jurisdiction of some of the panchayats where sufficient sand is not available.
The sand audit has recommended mining of 242 cubic metres of sand from the stretch of the Periyar passing through Kavalangad panchayat; 4,057 cubic metres in Koovappady panchayat; 9,480 cubic metres in Okkal; 422 cubic metres in Perumbavoor municipality; 96 cubic metres in Vazhakkulam; 18,314 in Keezhmadu; 242 in Adimali; 784 in Neeleeswaram; 1,567 in Kalady and 8,431 cubic metres in Kanjoor. The study was conducted on the south bank of the Periyar in the Kavalangad, Koovappady, Okkal, Perumbavoor, Vazhakkulam and Keezhmadu local bodies. The study was conducted in the rest of the jurisdiction of the local bodies on the north bank of the river, the release said.
The sand audit found that sand mining should not be done on the stretches of the river passing through Keerampara, Pindimana, Vengoor, Aluva, Kuttampuzha, Sreemoolanagaram and Chengamanad local bodies.
The recommendation is that sand mining has to be conducted in a phased manner and future mining sanctions will be issued only on the basis of further studies.
The State government has entrusted the task of implementing the orders on sand mining with the District Collector.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)