Collector M. Prathap receives petition during the fishermen’s grievance redress meeting held in Nagercoil on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Members of ‘Anukkanima Suranga Edhirppu Makkal Iyakkam’ submitted a petition at the fishermen’s grievance redress meeting held at the Collectorate in Nagercoil on Friday, demanding that the State government revoke the permission granted for atomic mineral mining in the district.The petition, submitted by the movement’s president Arul Anandhan, along with other functionaries, stated that, the DMK government had assured in March 2025 that mining project would not be implemented, following a series of protest organised by the residents of Kanniyakumari district in September 2024,. The protests were launched when IREL (India) was preparing to commence mining operations over an area of 1,144 hectares in the district.According to the petition, the proposed mining areas cover the revenue villages of Keezhmidalam, Midalam, Enayamputhnthurai, Ezhudesam A,B,C and Kollengode A and B in Killiyoor Assembly constituency.However, the petitioners alleged that the current government’s decision to extend the mining until June 2027 has created shockwaves among the residents.The petitioners urged the district administration to take necessary measures to revoke the approval granted for the project.Responding to this, Kanniyakumari Collector M. Prathap stated that the concerns raised by the people have been brought to the attention of the Chief Minister and appropriate action would be taken.Meanwhile, residents of Chinnathurai submitted a separate petition at the meeting highlighting the issue of drinking water contamination in the village. They stated that Chinnathurai, which comes under Thoothoor village panchayat has three overhead drinking water storage tanks. They alleged that drinking water supplied to the village from these tanks was heavily contaminated with sewage, rendering it unfit for consumption.They further stated that when the issue was raised with the panchayat secretary on behalf of the village administration, he responded in a negligent manner. They also alleged that tanks have not been cleared for several years and the well supplying water to the tanks has not been desilted or maintained for a long time.Addressing this, Mr. Prathap has urged the authorities to immediately examine the complaints regarding the drinking water contamination and take appropriate remedial measures.During the meeting, fisherman Enalraj from Vaniyakudi raised the long-pending demand for a sea ambulance service for fishermen in the district.In response, the Collector said that a detailed D.O. letter has been sent to the government, as the proposal was considered an important welfare measure that could significantly aid rescue operations at sea.He added that, since Kerala is currently implementing the service, a team of officials would visit the neighbouring state to study its functioning, for implementation in Kanniyakumari district.Deputy director fisheries and fishermen welfare K. T. Gopinath and several other officials were present at the meeting. Published - July 03, 2026 06:35 pm IST
