Illicit sand mining continues unabated on the banks of the Thenpennaiar river in Soriyankuppam and surrounding villages near Bahour despite the National Green Tribunal order to curb the activity and the prohibitory orders issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (South).
Every night, hundreds of bullock carts and tractors enter the riverbed through a burial ground in Soriyankuppam and lift the sand. Deep craters on the riverbed show unscientific mining that has damaged the natural aquifers leading to the intrusion of sea water at Sitheri and Commandamedu.
“Even after repeated requests, the government has not provided adequate protection to the Soriyankuppam bridge and other structures. Sand mining has already damaged the pillars of the bridge. But the officials have not been able to check such practices”, V. Chandrasekhar, president, Bangaru Vaickal Neeradhara Kootamaippu, told The Hindu .
The NGT had banned river sand mining from the Thenpennaiar, taking into account the depleted river sand, sinking riverbed and plummeting groundwater levels. However, illegal sand mining continued indiscriminately, he said.
Unmanned check-posts
The two check-posts at Thookanampakkam and Periyar Nagar, set up on the directions of the NGT to check sand mafia, remained unmanned. Although permits were awarded by the Cuddalore Irrigation Division to mine sand from the permitted quarry in Otteri region, the miners violated the conditions and lifted sand on the stretch between Sitheri and Commandamedu defying the NGT ban.
“The mafia with money, political and muscle power instead go upstream stretch of the Thenpennaiar river till Azhagiyanatham and mine sand illegally. They use the passes issued by the irrigation division of Cuddalore district to cross the check-posts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” he said.
The penalty in such cases varied from ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per cart. An FIR would be registered and the fine amount increased by ₹1,000 in case the violator was caught committing the illegal act repeatedly, an official said
According to an official, “In spite of regular raids conducted by the Revenue department, illegal sand mining could not be curtailed as the persons engaged in the activity are under the impression that it is their right to take sand. During raids, on seeing the revenue officials the sand mafia flee from the site. This has become a menace now,” he said.
The Bangaru Vaickal Neeradhara Kootamaippu has urged the government to immediately stop illegal sand mining and save the biodiversity in the region.
