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River dredging sparks sand mining fury
5 Feb
Summary
- Residents allege illegal sand mining disguised as dredging.
- Protesters demolished a bridge used for alleged sand transport.
- Dredging aims to clear two lakh cubic metres of silt.
Discontent is growing in Kozhikode regarding sand mining operations in the Korapuzha river, which residents claim are illicitly occurring under the pretext of necessary dredging. Protests have erupted, with locals last week blocking sand transport and demolishing a makeshift bridge allegedly used for illicit activities.
Residents accuse the contracting firm of engaging in "indiscriminate" sand mining without sufficient government supervision. They also stopped an attempt to dump processing sludge within the Mattuvayal area, violating contractual agreements. Following these actions, the dredging work, overseen by the Irrigation department, has been temporarily suspended.
The project targets the removal of approximately two lakh cubic metres of soil from the Korapuzha estuary to the railway bridge. This initiative aims to improve navigation for fishing boats and mitigate local flooding issues caused by silt accumulation and reduced water flow.
Local MLA and Minister for Forest and Wildlife, A.K. Saseendran, has pledged to address the situation promptly. He indicated that a meeting with officials and residents would be scheduled after the State Assembly concludes its current session.
