Sand smugglers to be booked under Goondas Act: Kovai Collector

“There were complaints that river sand is being smuggled using private vehicles, bullock-carts and on donkeys. I have ordered for a probe to initiate severe action against the smugglers and book them under the Goondas Act,” he said. 

For their part, the district police have set up a contact number for the public to inform them about the illegal activity. “Public can call 94458-46282 to inform police on unlawful activities such as online lottery, fake liquor sales and sand smuggling issues. The identity of the informer will not be revealed,” said P Logeshwaran, Inspector, special branch of Coimbatore district police. 

Meanwhile, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has accused the Coimbatore police for turning a blind eye towards illegal sand mining in the Noyyal. 

In a petition submitted to Hariharan on Tuesday, the party’s state youth wing secretary Ashok Srinithi said his party workers had caught a sand-laden lorry near Coddissia on Avinashi Road on April 13 and handed it to the police. 

However, instead of taking appropriate action against the sand smugglers, the cops took 50 PMK partymen to a marriage hall. Seven among them were remanded to custody, but later let off on station bail, Srinithi said.  Hence, the petition sought a fresh and a transparent investigation under the Collector’s supervision. 

In a welcome move, farmers, youngsters and residents of Alandurai and Mathuvarayapuram have joined hands to form ‘Noyyal Protection Committee’ to safeguard the river from further exploitation.