ALAPPUZHA: The Kerala High Court issued a notice to the government in connection with black sand mining and the Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) engaged in mining. The notice was issued on the plea of K M Hussain, a native of Alappad stating that sand mining in Alappad panchayat is illegal. The court will consider the case after a week. The plea alleged that if this strip of land erodes any further, the backwaters would irreversibly merge with the sea and turn the river waters saline. The area of Alappad panchayat which was 89.5 square kilometre has now shrunk to a measly 7.6 square km due to sea erosion caused by the mining. The plea has asked to make clear the steps taken on the report of the commission who conducted a study on mining. It also requested the court to order the government to implement the directives of the report in a timely manner. The plea has requested IRE to stop mining. The court has asked the union environment ministry and remote sensing agency to conduct a study and submit a report.