· 45,000 tonnes of sand extracted everyday: study

· `Form `kadavu' committees at panchayat level'

KOCHI: `Greens,' an environmental group, has urged the Government to check illegal sand mining in Periyar river. Rampant mining has forced environmental groups to seek immediate intervention of the authorities to control such incidents.

The Periyar Action Plan prepared in 1997 had reported that over 45,000 tonnes of sand was being extracted from the river everyday.

Though there are no official records on the quantum of sand illegally mined from each `kadavu,' estimates projected by residents put the number at ten times above the allowed figure.

Secretary of the Association for Environment Protection S. Sitaraman said Government should show the courage to implement the provisions of the Kerala River Protection and Regulation of Sand Mining Act.

In a letter to the Revenue Minister, Greens has pointed out that the annual ban on mining should not be lifted before schedule.

They have urged the Government to strengthen the functioning of the expert committee on sand mining in the district.

Environmental groups have informed the Minister that permission for mining should be given only after forming `kadavu' committees at the panchayat level.

CESS study

Citing a study conducted by the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Professor Sitaraman said several islands including Okkal, Parunthuranchi and Aluva had shrunk rapidly as a result of slumping of banks.

The study had warned that the sand reserve of Periyar would be exhausted in five to six years causing severe impairment to the river ecosystem and associated engineering structures on the river.