Quarries and sand mining: Kerala Speaker's reference reopens debates

Thiruvananthapuram: The comments by Kerala Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan that quarries should be nationalised and consensus should be reached regarding sand mining have opened the doors for fresh debates on the issue.

His comments came in an interview given to a private TV channel. But Congress leader, and also a former speaker, VM Sudheeran came out against the suggestion regarding consensus on mineral sand mining.

The take of the Speaker is that quarries should be nationalised and run under the ownership of the state government. Private quarries should not be permitted without control. Mining should be limited to the minimum requirement. Building habits should also be altered as dictated by the availability of construction materials. He also added that Kerala which does not capitalise on its mineral beach sand, is living in a fool's paradise. In fact, mineral sand is a way to save ourselves from the ravages of flood, and he urged for a consensus on this.

VM Sudheeran however, commented on the Speaker's suggestion saying that it surprised him to hear sand mining being proposed a means for the reconstruction of Kerala. It was not appropriate, Sudheeran said, that the Speaker who should act above controversies, put forward an anti-people pronouncement.