3 days ago
Activists petition Karur collector over illegal sand mining
Trichy: Sand mining activists submitted a petition to Karur district collector M Thangavel on Thursday, alleging that illegal sand mining continues unchecked in the region despite recent enforcement actions.
The petition follows a major crackdown last week near Vangal in Karur district, where ten individuals were arrested and 26 trucks — including 12 loaded with sand — were seized. The operation, led by a special police team formed by Trichy DIG V Varun Kumar under the supervision of Karur SP Feroze Khan, uncovered a large stockpile of illegally mined river sand at Manmangalam.
Despite this, activists claim the illegal activity persists.
R S Mugilan, coordinator of the Cauvery River Protection Association, stated in the petition that those involved in the sand mafia, including individuals using forged government documents, must be arrested and prosecuted under the Goondas Act. He also urged authorities not to bow to political pressure, alleging links between the accused and the ruling DMK party.
The petition further cited a five-year study by IIT researchers, warning of hazardous medical and chemical waste in the Cauvery River, which could pose serious health risks such as cancer, infertility, and skin diseases. Mugilan stressed that continued illegal sand mining threatens both drinking water sources and agriculture in Karur district.
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