Senior Communist leader R. Nallakannu on Tuesday demanded the suspension of sand quarrying activities along the Cauvery due to unprecedented drought and depleting water table in the State.
He visited the a few sand mining reaches on the Coleroon near Tiruchi for a first hand assessment of the impact of sand mining.
Accompanied by farmers, environmentalists and members of Communist Party of India, he visited Thiruvalarcholai, Uttamarseeli and other villages. P. Ganesan, Tiruchi rural district secretary, CPI, and Ayilai Sivasurian, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, were among those who accompanied him.
Mr. Nallakannu told The Hindu that the river had literally turned into ponds at several locations thanks to the “indiscriminate and unmindful” sand mining for several years. There were indications that sand had been mined beyond the permitted depth.
He said the sand mining has affected the groundwater table to a great extent. Several villages along the Cauvery used to be fertile. But, they had lost the fertility due to sand mining. People had been forced to walk for kilometres to fetch water.
He said that all districts had been experiencing severe drought.
Drinking water crisis had surfaced in all parts of the State including villagers along the Cauvery, which was the source for many drinking water projects in the State.
Eighteen districts in the State were dependent on the Cauvery for agriculture and drinking water.
The crisis would worsen in summer. So, the State government should suspend the sand mining on the Cauvery and the Coleroon to protect the drinking water sources, he added.
