Illegal sand mining is once again becoming active in Dharmadam panchayat, the Chief Minister’s constituency. Following a news report by Karma News on this issue, sand mining and transportation were temporarily halted, but they have now resumed. Currently, sand extracted from the river is being filtered on-site and transported in large trucks.
Complaints had been submitted to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister, and others, leading to a temporary halt in sand extraction. Using large machinery, sand filled with silt is dredged from the Anchirikkandi River at the Palayad area, challenging the local public. This sand is filtered in an area cleared of mangroves in the fifth ward of Muzhappilangad panchayat, next to the Anchirikkandi River, and then transported within and outside the district.
In the recent panchayat meeting, BJP councilors raised this issue, but no response was given. Many organizations are now preparing to protest in front of the panchayat in the coming days. Due to this mining, the bridge over the Muzhappilangad bypass is at risk, as are nearby houses and buildings. The sand extraction is being carried out under the guise of boat transportation. Dredging for boat traffic is happening across a 12-kilometer stretch from Chirakkuni to Mamparam in the Dharmadam constituency.
