Sand mining in Cauvery: High Court issues notice to State government
The Madurai branch of the Madras High Court had directed the state government to file counter affidavit in the petition demanding the High Court to stop illegal mining in River Cauvery in Tiruchirappalli and Karur districts and to take action against officials who had allowed illegal mining of sand.
By : migrator
Update: 2016-12-15 18:12 GMT
Madurai
Petitioner, Rajendran, a lawyer from Musiri, in his petition, had claimed that the PWD will give permission to mine sand in the river beds across the state. In Tiruchirappalli, permission had been given at East Vazhvandhi and Thandalaipudhur and Vepillai in Karur district.
Environmental clearance is also issued for the operation of quarries in the river beds. But mining is carried out illegally at Ambur and Ayyampalayam in Tiruchirappalli district and Achampuram in Karur district.
Continuous mining had depleted the water resources and even PWD officials turn a blind eye to the incidents. In three years (2012 to 2015), in the three quarries, 1.76 lakhs of loads of sand were illegally mined.
Though a petition to the State Chief Secretary demanding action against erring officials was sent, no action was taken on them claimed the petitioner. He also prayed the Court to ban illegal mining of river sand at the Cauvery river bed and to take action against the officials.
Either the CBI or THE CB-CID should investigate the case prayed the petitioner. The case was heard on Thursday and Judges after the argument had directed the state Chief Secretary to file counter affidavit by January 12 and adjourned the case.
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