KOLLAM: In a press release, KMML officials said that the propaganda about sand mining from the Thottappally spillway is untrue.

It was falsely reported that tons of synthetic rutile (beneficiated ilmenite) had been procured from CMRL even after the process of removal of sand accumulated in the spillway was started. Although the government issued an order in 2019 to remove sand from Thottappally, KMML started sand mining only in May 2020 after completing the procedures. The Disaster Management Authority gave instructions to remove the accumulated sand in the Thottappally spillway based on the study of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and IIT Madras.

Half of the 15 percent mineral sand obtained from Thottappally is processed by KMML and the rest by IREL. Sand containing 15 percent ilmenite is obtained from Thottappally. The sand brought from Thottappally is delivered to KMML and minerals will be separated and used for the production process of Ilmenite Company. KMML also collects the Ilmenite separated at IREL. For this, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the two companies that the Ilmenite will be supplied only to KMML. The revenue authorities have certified that the flood risk in the Kuttanad areas has been eliminated by removing the accumulated sand in the Thottappally spillway and by cutting the ditch wider.

KMML has not procured Beneficiated Ilmenite (BI) from outside since 2020, ever since sand mining started from Thottappally. Before that, till 2019, when the BI in the company was insufficient for the production of titanium dioxide, BI was purchased from CMRL and DCWL, a private company in Tamil Nadu, to ensure smooth production. These transactions were through transparent tender.

KMML currently does not sell ilmenite to CMRL or any other company. Where ilmenite is required in excess of ilmenite mined by the company for the production of titanium dioxide, it is procured from IREL. The propaganda that mineral sand was sold is also untrue. Only public sector bodies IREL and KMML have the legal authority to separate minerals, including ilmenite, from mineral sands.

KMML, which is continuously operating at a profit, also pays dividends to the state government. The company officials stated that the untrue things are being spread to destroy KMML, which is working in such a good manner, and to tarnish it in front of the public and there is an ulterior motive behind this.