TIRUNELVELI
Seeking action against illicit miners lifting sand from the beds of the Chittar and the Tamirabharani using heavy equipment, a petition was submitted to Collector Shilpa Prabhakar Satish here on Monday.
In the petition, advocate C. Uchimakali of Kattalai village near Palamadai said illicit sand mining had been going on unabatedly in the Chittar near Madathupatti with the connivance of officials for the past few weeks. The illicit sand miners, who removed sand in the night using heavy equipment in the Chittar and the Tamirabharani near Seevalaperi, sent it to various destinations, including Kerala, in trucks.
“Since river sand is being mined to a depth of more than 50 feet, groundwater level in this region has gone down dangerously. As sand-laden trucks have badly damaged roads, accidents involving bikes have become a routine affair. Henchmen of illicit sand miners, who are moving around in this area on motorcycles and in autorickshaws during night, are threatening public,” he said.
Mr. Uchimakali also claimed that he was threatened by illicit sand miners’ men when he asked them to stop mining, which affected agriculture in the village.
“They told me that they were lifting sand on the instruction of the son of a senior State Minister and threatened me not to raise this issue anywhere. Hence, the Collector should take immediate steps to check illicit sand mining to save farming in our area,” he said.