The Madras High Court bench here has ordered notice to the Tirunelveli district Superintending Engineer of the Public Works Department and the Collector on a public interest litigation filed by the Tirunelveli District Sand Lorry Owners’ Welfare Association seeking a ban on quarrying of sand from the Tamiraparani river for the construction of a check dam near Seevalaperi village.
The association’s president R. Subash Chandra Bose claimed in his petition that the High Court had issued an order prohibiting sand quarrying in the Tamiraparani river. But quarrying activities continue in the river near Seevalaperi village, where a check dam is being constructed, he alleged in his petition.
According to the petitioner, the contractors who are constructing the dam claim that they are authorized to quarry sand in the river for construction of the check dam. Mr. Bose claimed in his petition that there is a possibility that the contractors might sell the quarried sand for other construction activities. The lorry drivers whose business involves transporting sand from the stockyards in other districts have lost income because of the act of the contractors, he alleged.
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The petitioner claimed that permitting quarrying in the river will lead to ‘haphazard mining’ and affect the environment. Therefore, he prayed for a ban on quarrying in the river.
A division bench comprising Justices M. Jaichandren and M. Venugopal ordered notice and adjourned the case by two weeks.