Stop sand-mining, say villagers

They say round-the-clock quarrying affects livelihood of 10 villages

A team from Tiruvallur district and Water Resources Department recently inspected a quarrying site in Punnapakkam following residents’ agitation —Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

The only sand quarry that recently started operations at Punnapakkam, Tiruvallur district, is facing problems as residents are united in their struggle against sand-mining across the Kosasthalaiyar river.

Villagers in Punnapakkam complain that round-the-clock sand quarrying has affected the livelihood of 10 villages around the site as excessive sand-mining has led to deep pockets in the river bed.

Sand supply to Chennai is facing another threat as residents of Punnapakkam want the quarrying to be suspended in their village.

S. Balaji of Punnapakkam said villagers cultivate jasmine, rose, groundnut and paddy. Agricultural activity has been affected as groundwater table has dipped. The river has been dry for over five years now.

Residents said the river was being overexploited and hence sand-mining should be stopped.

G. Sampath, Ellapuram panchayat union councillor, said nearly 10 villages in the neighbourhood such as Tamaraipakkam, Kavanur, Vengal, Sembedu, Azhingivakkam and Setthupakkam depended on the river for drinking water.

Water was supplied to Tiruvallur and up to Thiruninravur from here.

Hundreds of borewells had gone dry and water level had dipped to 100 feet. Sand-mining began as early as 4 a.m.

Following the protests, a team from the Tiruvallur district administration and Water Resources Department (WRD) officials recently conducted an inspection and received petitions.

According to WRD officials, the quarrying in the site started only on September 3. With the ban on sand-mining in Kancheepuram, this was the only nearby site to source sand for Chennai.

“We are quarrying as per norms and maintaining the bed level of river course. Only 200 to 250 loads a day are being supplied from the Punnapakkam quarry. Several vehicles were seized for illegal sand-mining,” said an official.

The team will submit the report to the Tiruvallur Collectorate, following which a decision will be taken.

Meanwhile, the WRD has sought environment clearance to open another quarry in Vidaiyur in Tiruvallur district.

Hundreds of borewells had gone dry and water level had dipped to 100 feet.