The district administration’s decision to close down 15 sand mining ghats came as a bolt from the blue for around 5000 sand mining labourers, who are now left in the lurch, struggling every day to make both ends meet. The ghats were closed down as Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) failed to include them in a feasibility study report. Labourers in Okkal, Koovapadi, Kanjoor, Kaladi and Malayattoor Neeleshwaram panchayat areas are worst affected. As per the High Court order, on the basis of CESS report, sand mining will be allowed in the Periyar river only. However, the sand mining labourers are dissatisfied with the report stating that it is unscientific. “The district administration acted on a distorted report. The inspections carried out by CESS and Center for Water Resources Development and Management were improper,” said K D Shaji, secretary, Sand Mining Labourers Union. The union has demanded a new sand audit. “The district expert committee, which has been formed to look after such affairs, should act immediately for a new sand audit,” he said. They also alleged that the river management fund worth Rs24 lakh which was granted to CESS by the district expert committee to conduct proper inspections was not used properly. “They could have resorted to most modern ways for inspection. However, they continue to stick to the old means of inspection like determining the volume of the sand by immersing bamboo sticks into the river. We cannot accept a report based on such methods,” said K P Salim, former member of the district expert committee. Salim also said that such a ban would increase illegal sand mining. “The ban cannot curtail illegal sand mining, but instead would accentuate it. To prevent it, these recognised sand mining labourers should be allowed to continue their activity,” he said. If they have any issues, they should take it up with CESS, said Harinarayanan, executive engineer, Major Irrigation Department, who is also the convener of the district expert committee. “The CESS is conducting the feasibility study. Those fifteen ghats were closed down as they were excluded from the feasibility report,” he said. Harinarayanan said that their demand is to open the ghats as they were opened for a short period by the government. “However, they were shut down after the stipulated period. Decisions in this regard could be taken only after the next feasibility report by CESS is submitted,” he added.