2 villages skip gram sabha over water woes, sand mafia

While residents of Anpoondi kept away from the meeting condemning the district administration and the government for failing to act against the sand mafia, residents of Minnur village boycotted the gathering due to the failure of the district administration to provide water for over 20 days. 

When officials asked Anpoondi residents to come for the meeting, residents refused and shouted slogans against the government inaction against the sand mafia, who had threatened them with dire consequences. 

“The village has been without drinking water for over a week as sand lorries passing through their area ruptured pipelines in three places,” said former panchayat president M Srinivasan. “When we went to inspect the damaged pipes, Latheri police tried to prevent us. So, we decided to boycott the gram sabha to draw the attention of the government,” he added. 

It may be recalled that just few days ago, a pump operator of the panchayat was allegedly assaulted by the sand mafia after he objected to their illegal activity. Minnur residents cited the failure of district administration and the government to provide them with drinking water for over three weeks and boycotted the meeting. 

Though officials tried to pacify them, villagers refused to budge resulting in officials finally ordering sinking of a new bore well in the locality. Even after a rig arrived at the spot and started work, villagers stood their ground and refused to participate in the gram sabha.