Thiruvananthapuram: The state government is unlikely to allow clay mining in Technocity project site as it could hit its construction activities hard. According to sources, a committee headed by the director of industries that looked into the demand of the state-run Kerala Clays and Ceramic Products (KCCP) has reported against it. But a final decision is still pending, even as sources said the government would favour Technocity.
They said mining could also trigger further legal issues as some of the areas that allotted for mining earlier are now part of the Technocity. “If we allow KCCP to mine clay here, others who had earlier leased land in the project site for the same purpose may also move the court demanding the same rights,” said one of them. It was citing the acute scarcity of clay that the KCCP sought permission to mine in 21 acres of Technocity land.
They highlighted that the natural resource could even earn huge revenue for the state. Moreover, the KCCP's functioning has stalled owing to difficulties in mining clay, especially due to protests by raising environmental hazards. However, the Technocity authorities strongly objected citing difficulties, especially dust problem, that the mining activities could pose for the projects coming up in Technocity.
“Of the total area where clay deposits were found, nearly 50 percent was not taken over by Technocity yet. Hence we had no objection to mining there. However, in the area already taken over by Technocity, it would create a lot of inconvenience and practical difficulties,” said a Technocity source.
The government in November constituted a committee headed by the then director of industries K. N. Satheesh to report on the matter. Mining and geology director T. K. Ramakrishnan and IT parks chief executive officer Hrishikesh Nair were the members. K. Biju had replaced Mr Satheesh as director of industries later. DC learns the committee submitted its report recently citing Technocity’s concerns.
