The Madras High Court on Wednesday restrained the Public Works Department (PWD) from quarrying sand from the Kollidam riverbed at Tirumanur village in Ariyalur district until June 8. The interim order was passed on a public interest litigation petition filed by a lawyer apprehending adverse impact to the environment.
A Division Bench of Justices V. Parthiban and P.D. Audikesavalu granted the interim order after the petitioner’s counsel A. Chandrakumar brought it to the notice of the court that the Madurai Bench of the High Court had on April 28 restrained the PWD from quarrying sand from the Kollidam riverbed in Thanjavur district.
In the present case, the petitioner V. Muthukumaran, 39, claimed that the government officials were bent upon operating a quarry at Tirumanur village in Ariyalur district since their plans to mine sand from the riverbed falling in Thanjavur district got foiled due to the interim orders passed by the Madurai Bench.
