Sand kept at Cochin Port —DC
Kochi: While the state government is considering the proposal to resume sand mining in Bharathapuzha and river Periyar and using the sand for metro rail construction, more than 32,000 tonnes of sand imported from Cambodia remains dumped at the Cochin Port for more than six months.
Clearing the cargo has been delayed as the Customs authorities asked for a quarantine certificate for the sand. Though the High Court recently gave its accent for the sale of soil, it is yet to be cleared.
According to experts, if the sand is distributed without adopting quarantine measures, it can cause ecological impacts as they could contain microorganisms or other biological materials.
However, representatives of Raja Steel Private Limited, the Coimbatore- based firm which imported the sand are annoyed that the sand is lying untouched following the confusion over quarantine measures.
Confusion over the requirement of quarantine certificate have caused the company a huge financial loss. The company has been giving demurrage to the Port authorities for not removing the cargo.
Meanwhile, based on the reports that the soil can be used for metro construction, the company representatives had earlier said that they were ready to sell the sand. A total of four lakh cubic metres of sand is needed for the metro rail project.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation principal advisor Dr. E. Sreedharan sent an explanation to Prof. S. Sitaraman, general secretary of All Kerala River Protection Council regarding the concerns raised by him on the sand mining from Periyar and Bharathapuzha rivers.
“Good quality river sand is essential to ensure the life of Metro structures which have to last at least 100 years. We have to make a choice between structural durability and environmental impacts. Moreover, controlled sand mining is necessary for the health of a river,” said Dr. Sreedharan in his letter.
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