Revenue Department and the police have resolved to conduct regular night patrols at eight points in the dry riverbed of Noyyal in Perur sub-division of the Coimbatore District (Rural) Police to put an end to illegal sand mining rampant in the region. While Revenue Department will resort to procedures such as imposing fine on the offenders and impounding the vehicle used for transportation, the police have decided to initiate penal action against those involved.
Perur Deputy Superintendent of Police A. Velmurugan said that the patrols will be carried out between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The new arrangement to control sand mining was taken at a meeting of various stakeholders, namely Revenue Department, police, environmentalists, farmers’ association, local body, and villagers held on Sunday.
According to the volunteers of Noyyal River Protection Committee, at least 10 loads of sand were illegally being dug from the dry riverbed of the river, considered as the lifeline of Coimbatore each day from places such as Alandurai, Madvarayapuram, Iruttupallam, Narasipuram, and Karunya Nagar.
The river bed has become dry and miners at some places have dug pits at a depth of 20 ft.
Sand from the river was being dug at night and shifted to locations accessible to lorries using mini goods carriers. At Narasipuram, donkeys were used to transport sand to the next location.
Earthmovers
“At Iruttupallam, sand from the riverbed was being shifted to trucks using earthmovers as more volume can be transported in short period. Each truck load of sand is being sold for price ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹45,000,” said P. Ranganathan of Noyyal Paadhukappu Kuzhu.
He pointed that imposing fine and impounding the vehicle used for sand smuggling can control the menace, which has affected the riverbed beyond imagination.
“A lorry used for sand smuggling was seized in January. However, the vehicle was released on payment of a fine of ₹50,000 after which sand miners used the same vehicle for smuggling. The smugglers have made huge profits so that they are not bothered about paying the fine, if the vehicle is seized,” he said.
Mr. Velmurugan said that provisions of the Goondas Act could be imposed on persons who are repeatedly involved in illegal sand mining under provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the Indian Penal Code.
R. Manikandan of Kovai Kulangal Paadhukappu Amaipu said that volunteers of various environment NGOs here have decided to meet the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural, and the District Collector to request them to strengthen vigil against the sand smugglers.
