Date:07/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/07/stories/2005050709890300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Drowning of teenagers: Collector told to file report

Staff Reporter

For giving sanction for sand-mining

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Kottayam District Collector who was chairman of the expert committee for giving sanction for sand-mining to file a detailed report regarding the permission given for sand quarrying in the Meenachil river.

Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan also directed the committee to report whether the Meenachil river had been destroyed because of sand-mining, and if it was destroyed, what action they had taken to prevent the destruction.

The directive was issued on a writ petition filed by K.J. Mathew of Irattupetta. According to the petitioner, six teenagers from Pondicherry drowned in the Meenachil river, near Bharananganam, because of the indiscriminate sand-mining in the river.

The petitioner alleged that sand was being quarried indiscriminately in connivance with the officials. The expert committee members, including the Bharananganam grama panchayat secretary and the Pala Municipality secretary, were liable to be prosecuted for having caused the death of the six teenagers.