Thiruvananthapuram: Dredging and Desilting at Biltappally Spillway has helped save Lakh life, Industrial Minister P said in the assembly on Monday.
Responding to the attention of the call by MLA KK Rema demanded that the government immediately end the sand mining and marine washing by Kerala Mineral and Metals Ltd and Indian Rare Earths Ltd.
(IREL) in Thottappally, the minister said that the demand made was to stop the activities that had saved the lakh life.
Even the Swaminathan commission has recommended that the width of the spillway must be increased to save Kutanad.
He said that the activities were being carried out based on laws in the country and also given the public interest and also added that dredging and desilting did not require previous environmental permits.
However, the reason quoted by Rama in demanding activities must be stopped immediately, in total contradictions on the explanation of the Minister.
He said that the land of 2,769 hectares had been lost due to dredging activity.
He said that as many as 456 families had lost their homes and property and around 1,600 families were on the verge of losing their homes.
He said that marine washing and sand mining caused serious coastal erosion.