Senior Communist leader R. Nallakannu on Sunday said that indiscriminate sand mining along the Cauvery and Coleroon had caused severe drinking water crisis in the State.
He was leading a demonstration organised by the CPI’s Tiruchi urban unit at Srirangam against the illegal sand mining along the Cauvery and the Coleroon.
Recollecting the visit he had undertaken recently in Tiruchi, Mr. Nallakannu said that the Cauvery and Coleroon rivers had literally been turned into ponds at several locations in Thiruvalarcholar and other areas following indiscriminate and unmindful sand mining for several years.
Instead of permitted 3 meters, sand had been extracted to the depth of 12 meters. The State government had failed to enforce rules and regulations on sand mining. It had ultimately led to depletion of water table in eighteen districts of the State.
He said that the State government could no longer be a spectator in the issue. Steps must be taken to suspend sand mining activities along the Cauvery and Coleroon river to safeguard the livelihood of farmers and preventing further depletion of water table.
K. Suresh, district secretary, K. Annadurai, Executive Committee member and others participated.
