SPEK to Host Kozhikode Forum on Sand‑Extraction Policy

UPDATE - follow-up to Greens see red over Keralam government move to permit sand extraction in 17 rivers: The Society for the Protection of the Environment, Kerala (SPEK) announced a public discussion to be held in Kozhikode on October 24, marking the anniversary of activist A. Achyuthan. Speakers will include SPEK president K. Koyatty and secretary K.K. Devadasan, who will press for a precise legal framework that limits sand extraction to scientifically‑determined amounts, sets timing, methods and locations, and requires oversight by a monitoring committee drawn from Revenue, Environment and Local Self‑Government departments. While the activists acknowledge sand is needed for construction, they argue any removal must be based on detailed studies of natural accumulation in check dams and rivers. They warn that large‑scale mechanical or manual extraction could damage the ecosystems of the state’s 44 rivers, lower riverbeds, reduce sunlight for river‑bed vegetation, kill fish and threaten fishing livelihoods. They also note that flooding in the state is more often linked to flood‑plain reclamation, urban drain blockage and sudden dam releases than to sand buildup. The discussion aims to rally public support and push the government to adopt stricter regulations before the extraction program begins in December 2026.

Context

Rivers in Kerala supply groundwater to wells, support paddy fields, wetlands and fisheries, and their sand layers help store water and prevent floods. Removing sand without study can upset this balance.