The sight of sand being quarried from Arasalar riverbed in bullock-carts even as the river is in full flow has caused immense distress among social activists residing in Kumbakonam region.
Stating that already the riverbed was ravaged when it was dry, an agriculturist-cum-social activist, Sundara Vimalanathan lamented that it was disheartening to note that sand was being manually scooped up from the riverbed and transported in bullock-carts for the past few days.
Bullock-cart operators, Mr.Vimalnathan said, claim that they had obtained permission from the revenue authorities to scoop the sand for construction of dwelling units under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin Scheme and under Chief Minister’s Solar Powered Green House Scheme. The number of carts engaged in this activity was abnormal and it leads to the suspicion whether the sand was actually used for the purpose for which the permission was granted, he added.
