A large number of sand lorry owners and drivers resorted to a road blockade at Amoor on Karur-Tiruchi highway on Tuesday protesting against the alleged priority being given to local sand lorry operators in loading sand from the quarries at Sinthalavadi and Mayanur sand reaches on the Cauvery river.
The agitation was led by Sella Rajamani, president of the Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation. About 950 persons were taken into preventive custody by the police as they resorted to the agitation after talks held by officials led by Karur Revenue Divisional Officer failed to reach an amicable solution.
The agitators alleged that lorries from other districts were forced to wait for days together to get a single load of sand from the quarries as locals demanded preference in loading.
They also demanded shifting of the designated parking area for lorries waiting to load sand at Mayaur.
The parking area was close to a liquor shop, they contended.
Although the authorities reportedly agreed to load sand on “first-come, first-served basis,” the PWD officials were said to have declined to accept the demand to shift the parking area.
The arrested persons were taken to marriage halls in Pasupathipalayam and later released in the evening.
Senior officials of the district held another round of talks with the agitating sand lorry operators later in the evening.
