<p>The CPM state secretariat on Friday rejected party veteran VS Achuthanandan's demand for a ban on mineral sand mining at Alappad and backed Industries Minister EP Jayarajan.</p><p>The secretariat today said putting an end to sand mining would mean stifling Indian Rare Earth which along with Kerala Minerals and Metals was involved with the mining. </p><p>At a meeting with the protestors, who have been on agitation for the last 79 days, Jayarajan said sea washing or surface mining would be done away with for a month by when the report of the study by Centre for Earth Science Studies would be completed.</p><p>Villagers in Alappad have demanded a ban on mining as it was eating into their land. Five decades ago when mining started, the litho map of Alappad village showed 89.5 sqkm which in 2017 shrunk to 8 sqkm.</p>
