The Kerala High Court has directed the Chief Secretary to submit recommendations on forming an expert committee to oversee the removal of sand from the Thottappally spillway mouth in Alappuzha district.
The directive came while considering a petition filed by R. Arjunan, general convener of the Anti-Black Sand Mining Coordination Committee, and Saji Jayamohan, secretary of the Thottappally Green Roots. The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice V.M. Shyamkumar, also observed that sand could be removed only in accordance with the guidelines issued by a multi-department expert panel.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on December 3.
The petitioners argue that unchecked sand extraction under the pretext of disaster management cannot be permitted, especially in an ecologically fragile area where such activities could gravely affect the coastline and surrounding farmlands. They further highlight that the site is among the world’s rare nesting grounds of the Olive Ridley turtle, an endangered species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, warning that any failure to safeguard this habitat could push the species close to extinction.
Published – November 27, 2025 07:58 pm IST
