The Karimanal Ghanana Virudha Ekopana Samithi (KGVES) has urged the State government not to entrust ‘mineral sand companies’ with the removal and transporting of sand from Thottappally pozhi (sandbar at sea mouth). The KGVES chairman, Suresh Kumar S., stated that in recent years, companies like Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited and Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) have been entrusted with opening the pozhi and transporting the removed sand in the name of flood mitigation in Kuttanad. However, this unscientific dredging and removal of large quantities of mineral-rich sand is causing damage to the coast and Kuttanad region. The KGVES alleges that the government has assigned IREL to cut open the pozhi and remove sand to benefit the Cochin Minerals And Rutile Limited. The KGVES has been staging an indefinite relay satyagraha for over 1,000 days to protest against mineral sand mining in the area.