The State government has banned sand quarrying in all riverbeds in Kancheepuram district for one year from Wednesday.
Disclosing this in a press release, collector, K. Baskaran said the ban comes into effect from November 13. Apart from the levy of a fine on violators, vehicles, including bullock-carts, used for quarrying activity would be impounded and criminal action, including cases under the Goondas Act, would be initiated against the violators, he said.
While welcoming the decision by pointing out that the ban would bring an end to domination of private persons in sand quarrying from riverbeds and loading activity in stock yards in Kancheepuram district, the Tamilnadu State Sand Lorry Owner’s Federation’s president, S. Yuvaraj has called upon the government to revive sand sales through its own machinery in view of the demand for sand for construction activities in and around Chennai.
This would definitely bring down the cost per unit of sand in the open market, he added.
