The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Government to file report on sand and soil quarrying on the banks of Pennai river

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Government to file report on sand and soil quarrying on the banks of Pennai river

Special Correspondent

Government Pleader’s submission before First Bench of the Madras High Court

CHENNAI: The Government Pleader (GP) has submitted before the Madras High Court that the government will file a report about the actual condition of quarrying on the banks of the Pennai.

The government made the submission before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice H. L. Gokhale and Justice P. Jyothimani, when a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the authorities to stop illegal sand and soil quarrying in Villupuram district in violation of the law came up.

In its interim order, the Bench said it would be desirable if a senior geologist either from the government or from any university prepared a report. The GP said that the government would file a report on the actual condition of quarrying and also whether it was as per norms and if not, in what manner it had been carried on.

The Bench posted the matter for July 13.

In his petition, K. R. Radhakrishnan of Villupuram submitted that in the district sand quarrying was permitted in the Pennai river at Kandarkottai, Andhili, Karadipakkam and Parankiyur. There was a procedure for loading and transporting the sand. He alleged that contractors hired private lorry owners for transporting sand and soil. The materials were being illegally transported.

When this was brought to the notice of the authorities, no action was taken. A heavy loss was being caused to the government. The petitioner prayed the court to consider his representations made in August last year and February this year to the Villupuram Collector.

In his counter, Collector R. Palaniswamy submitted that sand quarrying was being monitored by the Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (Water Resources Organisation), Lower Pennaiyar Basin Division, Villupuram. Gravel quarrying was being monitored by the Deputy Director of Geology and Mining, Villupuram. Each and every load of sand in the river bed and gravel in the tank bed was being removed by using despatch slips issued by the departments after collecting the fee.

There was no violation in quarrying and transportation of sand and gravel and no revenue loss.

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