While Tiruvannamalai has been swift in its action, locals say menace thrives in Vellore due to official-culprits nexus.
Villagers raise slogans against sand miners wreaking havoc on Kaundanya Mahanadhi river
Chennai:
The action taken against culprits involved in river sand mining by both Vellore and Tiruvannamalai district administrations respectively offer a clear contrast.
While officials in Vellore are alleged to adopt a largely lethargic response to the illegal activity, their counterparts in the neighbouring district are taking a prompt action.
Villagers narrate their tale of sorrow
The Palar river meandering through 120 km in Vellore district – it enters the district at Vaniyambadi and exits at Ocheri on the Kancheepuram district border – has been a prime attraction for sand cartels.
The rampant sand mining has resulted in depleting ground water levels in several villages dotting the river. This has led to residents facing difficulties in obtaining water for both drinking and irrigation purposes.
Sources said rampant sand mining from Kaundanya Mahanadhi river has created several pits, measuring more than 25 feet in depth. This has affected drinking water sources in Pattu, Olakasi, Ananganallur and Indranagar villages.
“When the river is in full flow, these pits prevent water from reaching the tail-end areas. Furthermore, we face the danger of falling into the pits while crossing the river,” said Krishnan, a villager.
Nexus between officials and sand mafia
Despite repeated public complaints to officials concerned, no steps have been taken to act against the culprits, who in turn are emboldened to threaten complainants in their homes as had happened in a village near Gudiyattam on Monday.
Members of the sand mafia reportedly visited the houses of complainants and bluntly told them that they had paid ‘significant’ bribes to revenue and police officials. “They threatened to kill us if there we continued to oppose the removal of sand,” a villager said, on condition of anonymity.
Such is the relationship between the sand miners and officials that a seized tractor kept at the old taluk office in Pernambut was blatantly replaced. The removed tractor was engaged for transporting sand again, sources said.
Different scenario in Tiruvannamalai
But the situation in Tiruvannamalai district is different, sources said. They pointed out to the prompt action taken against three persons who allegedly murdered a sand mining whistle-blower near the SP office.
Similarly, when a child was killed recently after sand caved in on him, district officials quickly identified and arrested 11 persons for illegal mining in the area. Four of them were detained under the Goondas act.
Citing this example, locals have expressed their surprise over the lethargic attitude of Vellore district administration in safeguarding the natural resource.
TROUBLING TIMES
- Residents of Agravaram village near Gudiyattam stopped vehicles carrying sand on Sunday night and demanded the culprits to desist from the illegal activity
- Revenue officials, who accosted bullock cart sand miners near Tirupattur a week ago, had to beat a hasty retreat after the latter said they had paid the ‘necessary amount’
- Upset over lack of action by officials, residents of Pernambut recently burnt the sieves engaged by sand miners on the Malattar river bed