Human Rights Commission member visits mining site

Human Rights Commission member visits mining site

News.newkerala.com

January 19th 2005

Thiruvananthapuram - Kerala State Human Rights Commission today asked the Science and Technology department and Kerala University Environmental Studies department to look into complaints about the environmental fallout of clay mining in Mangalapuram panchayat in the outskirts of the city.

Human Rights Commission member S Varghese, who visited the clay mining sites on a complaint from M A Latheef, secretary of `Prathikarana Vedi,' a forum of local people, told reporters that the issue had to be studied in detail before any action could be recommended.

The local people said they were facing acute drinking water shortage in the panchayat where 19 clay mining companies were operating. Lung diseases were being caused with dust from the mining work, they told the Commission member.

Varghese also directed secretary, Mangalapuram panchayat, to present before the Commission documents regarding the licences issued for clay mining at its next sitting slated for Jan 27.

M A Latheef and Plachimada action committee convenor S Ajayan were present during the visit of the Human Rights Commission member. Varghese received complaints from the people on clay mining operations in the area. PTI