Alappad Populace Approves of Mining; Outsider-activism behind protests; E P Jayarajan

Thiruvananthapuram: State Industries minister EP Jayarajan  denounced the Save Alappad campaign as mere outsider activism. “Mining is taking place in Alappad because people from the locality support it”, he said. The narrative of shore erosion due to mining is deliberately fabricated to mislead people, he added. Mineral sands are Kerala’s inherent wealth, much like petrol and diesel for nations of the Arabian peninsula. Processed beach sand will improve Kerala’s economy, he said. Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) and The Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) are public sector undertakings involved in that process, one which cannot be stopped. People opposing mining are not natives, but those from Malappuram district. These have to be investigated in detail, he added.