ICEH Papers

KARIMANAL (MINERAL BEACH-SAND) MINING IN THE ALAPPUZHA COAST OF KERALA – A PEOPLE’S PERSPECTIVE

Sekhar, L.K and Jayadev S.K “Karimanal (Mineral Beach-Sand) Mining In The Alappuzha Coast Of Kerala – A People’s Perspective” in Martin J. Bunch, V. Madha Suresh and T. Vasantha Kumaran, eds., Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Environment and Health, Chennai, India, 15-17 December, 2003. Chennai: Department of Geography, University of Madras and Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. Pages 470 – 488.

Abstract:

The coast sand dunes of Kerala are enriched with six prescribed minerals viz. ilmenite, rutile, zircon, monazite, leucoxene (brown ilmenite), sillimanite and garnet. The state government in a much controversial move decided to lease out a 17-km stretch of state owned land from Valiyazhikkal to Thottappilly in Alappuzha district to Kerala Rare Earths and Minerals Limited (KREML), a joint sector company, to conduct mineral sand mining for twenty years. In the present study, the researchers try to comprehend the situation prevailing in the area. The study further tries to assess the seriousness of the social, environmental and health hazards that might result from the indiscriminate mining activity by a profit oriented company. The paper also attempts to compile the history of similar mining projects, their environmental consequences, social implications and mass movements that were successful in checking the negative implications of such hazards.

The government decision met criticism from all corners initially for the unprecedented haste with which the lease was awarded evoked suspicion. No authentic study was done before deciding to lease the land which is the means of livelihood for over 30,000 fishermen, apart from hundreds of coir workers. The coast line of Alappuzha and Kollam is densely populated with fisherman community and is one of the most populated stretches in the country (Census 2001). Sand mining in the area poses grave environmental as well as livelihood problems. Valiyazhikkal-Thottappilly stretch is a highly erosion-prone coastline. The mineral sand coast now acts as a sea wall protecting the area from sea erosion, and preventing sea water from flowing on to the rice fields in Kuttanad, which are close to this area as well as below sea level. Studies have shown that the area has the richest ground water storage in the state (Resource Atlas of Kerala, 1984). Radiation-related diseases have been reported from Chavara and the fear of this replicating in Alappuzha is justifiable.

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