The district administration has allowed farmers, pottery makers, and brick kiln units to remove silt from the water bodies under the control of the Public Works Department and the Rural Development Department in the district. They need not pay for it.
At a meeting with officials, District Collector V. Sampath has said that the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1959, allows citizens to quarry the silt after obtaining permission.
He said that 36 water bodies under PWD, seven under town panchayats and 258 under panchayats, have been identified from where the citizens can take gravel or silt.
He said that applicants should be a resident or possess agriculture land.
Farmers should obtain a certificate from the village administrative officer.
They can quarry 75 cubic metres an acre from wetlands, and 90 cubic metres an acre from dry lands.
For pottery making, 60 cubic metres is allowed, and for personal use, an individual is allowed to quarry 30 metres. Farmers will be allowed to quarry once in two years only. Applications can be submitted to the Collector and permission will be given within 20 days.
The quarrying will be permitted only between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The tractors used for transportation of the silt should have obtained permission from PWD or rural department of the panchayats.
Bunds should not be cut, and pits should be dug away from the bund.
The silt should not be dumped on tank beds, and no damages should be caused to tanks.
For details, contact, Assistant Director, Department of Mines, Room No. 206, Collector Office (phone: 0427-2419283).
Mettur Sub-Collector J. Megnath Reddy; District Revenue Officer R. Sugumar; Director of Mines A. Arul Nayanar; and revenue officials participated.
