Sand mining from patta lands in Cauvery delta was vehemently opposed by a section of farmers who claimed that such activity would result in depletion of groundwater table.
Staging a demonstration on a site from where sand was allegedly being scooped out on the banks of Vennar river in Thondarayanpatti village in Budalur block on Saturday, the demonstrators urged the district administration to check sand mining from patta lands resorted to by some persons as the sand mining activity on riverbeds had been regulated by the State government in view of a Madras High Court direction.
The demonstrators, led by Thamizhar Desiya Munnani general secretary Ayyanapuram C. Murugesan claimed that the sand mafia had spread their illegal activity by mining sand from patta lands abutting the rivers after getting the consent of the landowners either by ‘coercion using their collusion with the power centres’ or by luring the landowners by offering huge money.
At some places, the sand mafia had mined sand for more than 15 feet which would definitely affect the groundwater table in those areas. Stating that a few days ago, when the Thondarayanpatti villagers blocked four lorries transporting with sand from moving out of their hamlet, the Budalur police reached the spot and convinced the villagers that stern action would be taken against those who indulged in illegal sand quarrying.
They took a lorry to the police station while allowing the other three vehicles to proceed, he said and added that the lone vehicle taken into police custody was also ‘released’ after three days.
Alleging that of sand mining in patta lands was rampant in Panaveli, Nagathi, Aachanur and other hamlets in Tiruvaiyaru block, the demonstrators led by V.N. Kannan of CPI(M), R. Ramachandran of CPI, Durai. Madhivanan of AITUC, P. Kaliappan of Makkal Adhigaram, Kudanthai Arasan of Viduthalai Thamizh Puligal and S. Palanirasan of Samaveli Vivasayigal Iyakkam, urged the district administration to save the natural resources from being plundered.
