The state is planning to approach the Supreme Court with a plea for relaxation of conditions imposed on rock quarrying and sand mining in the state by the Green Tribunal as well as the apex court, in view of the standstill faced in the construction sector due to severe shortage of raw materials.
“The state will seek a review/modification of the order imposing stringent restrictions while citing the unique situation in the state,’’ Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the Assembly on Tuesday, replying to a calling attention motion of P Ubaidulla (IUML).
The Chief Minister said the state will probe ways to undertake restricted sand mining from select rivers, by following the guidelines issued by the Strategic Environment Assessment Agency (SEAA).
He said that the strictures issued by the SC and the Green Tribunal had, in effect, imposed a virtual ban on sand mining and rock quarrying. ‘’The state is not even able to spend money sanctioned for rail doubling works,’’ he said.
The Chief Minister said the Chief Secretary has been asked to give a report on pursuing sand mining in select rivers. Revenue and Labour departments are also involved in the exercise.
“The biggest crisis faced by the state is in the construction sector and it has to be addressed,” Oommen Chandy said.
Ubaidulla (IUML) said that the crisis faced by the construction sector from time to time is proving to be disastrous.
“Already,the state is ranked fourth in unemployment rate in the country.
“If the construction sector also goes into the dumps, the magnitude will be high,’’ he said.
He called for proper studies on various facets involving the sector.
The MLA also opined that the state should think about the use of pre-fabricated materials for constructing high-rise buildings.
