KOLLAM: Alappad , a coastal village in Kollam , is unassumingly quite these days despite being the epicentre of a social media campaign against mineral and sand mining by two public limited companies in the region.A temporary makeshift structure erected in the Cheriyazheekal junction near the Alappad village office is the only visible sign of the agitation. The protesters are on a relay – hunger strike for the last 75 days without much result. But they vow to continue their struggle until the government comes up with the only solution they are seeking – a complete end to the mining activities in Alappad.The protesters are on a relay – hunger strike for the last 75 days.Alappad, sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and TS Canal, has shrunk from 87.5 sqkm to 8.7 sqkm within a span of 50 years, according to a lithographic map published in 2017.The villagers-turned-activists allege indiscriminate mining in the sea and hinterland since 1965 by two state-run companies, IREL and KMML, as the prime reason behind the loss of land, a claim both the companies deny. | Read this in Malayalam The village has shrunk to 8.7 square kilometres from 87.5 square kilometres within a span of 50 years.A group of people from Alappad, mostly youngsters, have started a campaign on social media to stop mining in Alappad. The campaign soon became viral and social media rallied behind the protesters prompting the state government to intervene. Simultaneously, an action council named 'Save Alappad' was formed to coordinate the agitation.“This agitation is not something new to the people of Alappad. In fact, our struggle against mineral and sand mining dates to the very day these companies started their work in our village,” says Sajeesh Mukundan of 'Save Alappad.'The villagers blame the two public limited companies for the crisis.Alappad lies in the mineral-rich beach in Kollam known as Chavara Deposits. It’s a 22.5 km-long mineral sand beach containing heavy mineral contents like ilmenite, rutile, zircon and sillimanite. In 1965, Indian Rare Earths Limited, an organisation under the Department of Atomic Energy started mining in the region. Later, Kerala government-run KMML too was allotted certain blocks in the region for mineral exploration.Activists allege that Beach Wash, a mining process undertaken by both companies, has resulted in the alarmingly high level of erosion of coastline in Alappad panchayath. The companies continue their activities here despite being warned by a special committee of legislative members in Kerala as well as the local body in Alappad, says P Seleena, president of Alappad Grama Panchayath.Activists allege that Beach Wash has resulted in the high level of erosion of coastline."Beach washing is the primary reason for the erosion of land in Alappad. We have asked the companies to stop beach washing, but they are not complying with the order. KMML has repeatedly violated the rules while IREL has stopped Beach Washing for a short period of time only to start again,” said P Seleena.Beach Washing is the process of collecting loads of sand from the coasts where there is considerably high wave action. Activists say Beach Washing sand is collected by the companies but these spots are never refilled which means sea, as a natural process, bring sand from the coastline. This has continued for over five decades and finally resulted in Alappad losing 90% of its land to sea.But, IREL denies that Beach Washing has anything to do with the coastal erosion in Alappad.“We are adopting scientifically-proven methods for extraction of minerals in Alappad. We deny the allegations raised by the agitators,” said IREL Public Relations, in an exclusive e-mail interview.“Sea Wash collection is being done at the southernmost end of Alappad village in a stretch of around 500 meters length where sea wall is kept open for the purpose. The rest of the coastline - around 16 km of Alappad village - is totally protected by the sea wall constructed by the government of Kerala more than 50 years ago. The Sea Wash is a replenishable source. It is being carried out based on the scientific study done by NCESS (National Centre for Earth Science Studies), Thiruvananthapuram on sand accretion and budgeting. Based on the study report by NCESS, the Mining Plan for collecting Beach Wash mineral sand per annum has been duly approved by IBM (Indian Bureau of Mines) and AMD (Atomic Mineral Directorate),” added IREL.IREL has denied that Beach Washing has anything to do with the coastline erosion.IREL also stated that they were building four groynes in the sea to further protect Alappad coastline.“A groyne field consisting of four groynes at a cost of around Rs 6crore is being built in the coast. The groynes are designed by IIT Madras and construction work is being executed by Irrigation Department, Government of Kerala,” the company adds.Prof KV Thomas, a retired scientist who worked for the National Centre for Earth Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram, however, says Sea Washing could be the reason of coastline erosion in Alappad. He says both the companies should urgently take actions to reduce Sea Washing.“The mineral sand dunes were natural protection of coastline in Alappad. Coastline erosion is a natural phenomenon. With the change in climate and other natural reasons, the level of erosion has increased over the years in Indian coastlines. But, what happened Alappad is a different story. I think the rampant sand collection in the sea might have contributed in the coastline erosion,” added Thomas.The KMML hasn’t responded to the request for an interview.

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