Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress functionary V M Sudheeran accused the previous LDF govt led by Pinarayi Vijayan of facilitating mineral sand mining in Alappuzha under the guise of flood mitigation measures in Kuttanad.In a statement, Sudheeran said the Pinarayi govt created conditions benefiting private mineral sand interests through public sector undertakings. He alleged that an agreement signed in Oct 2019 between Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML) and the irrigation department for removing minerals from the Thottappally spill channel and estuary paved the way for mining activities. The agreement was based on a govt order issued in May 2019.Sudheeran said the project proceeded without studying its environmental and social impacts and resulted in mining activities detrimental to coastal communities. He recalled that protests against the project began in May 2020 under former Alappuzha DCC president M Liju and later evolved into a broad-based agitation involving residents, organisations and political activists. The protest, which started in June 2021, continued for 1,674 days before being temporarily suspended in Jan 2026 following a high court order.Sudheeran said the court directed the formation of a committee comprising experts and local body representatives to study issues related to mineral sand mining. However, he alleged that the committee constituted by the previous govt excluded relevant experts and panchayat presidents.Sudheeran accused the LDF govt of neglecting long-pending measures to address flooding in Kuttanad, including repairing the damaged shutters of the Thottappally spillway and dredging canals to improve water flow. He claimed the govt focused solely on mining activities while suppressing protests and filing cases against agitators.He maintained that the CPM, which opposed mining proposals in 2002, later abandoned its earlier stand after coming to power.
