Twin railway bridges at Munroe Thuruthu in danger

The twin railway bridges across the Kallada rive at Munroe Thruthu in Kollam district are in a precarious condition following wanton sand mining in the river. People on either side of the river have brought the issue to the attention of the railway and revenue authorities several times, but no action seems to have been taken to curb the illegal activity. The bridges rest on four pillars in the river on its Malayilpuram course. At least eight lorry-loads of sands are mined and transported from the riverbed a day. In fact, sand mining is banned within 500 metres in either side of the bridges. But the illegal activity takes place within 100 metres of the bridges. Here, mining starts at 5 am and continues till sunset. Any opposition to the illegal activity is dealt with in typical mafia style.

(The Hindu, 2^nd March ,2007)