Kumari Collector told to file report on river sand mining

A petition filed by Benzing of Kanyakumari came up for hearing before a Division Bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and SS Sundar. According to the petitioner, M- sand (manufactured sand) and jelly were manufactured by blasting the hills. The petitioner sought the bench to stop illegal quarrying at Kulavimalai hills, which is also called as Velimalai hills in Kalkulam taluk, Kanyakumari district.

The petitioner claimed that a temple, which was situated atop the hill was destroyed and the finished product of the illegally quarried were smuggled to other states. Further, the petitioner stated that a close scrutiny of photographs submitted would show destruction caused not only to the hills, but the vegetation including trees in and around the area also. Hence, he sought an interim stay on suchproceedings.

After making observations, the bench felt unless natural resources were protected, the future generation would not forgive us. Without knowing the exact volume of sand required for construction activities, it seemed that all natural resources were over exploited.

Further, the bench raised a series of queries such as requirement of river sand and M-sand in volume for State government for the past five years and volume of M-sand manufactured during this period.

The bench also asked whether the government was safeguarding natural resources, which were being smuggled into other states, number of cases concerning the unlawful act of such sand smuggling and progress in such cases. Moreover, the bench asked why not the government allow all private parties, who were interested to import these two categories of sand by waiving of local cess, so as to preserve rivers, hills and hillocks? Finally, the bench asked on the number of hills or hillocks allowed to be exploited for manufacturing M-sand and adjourned the case for three weeks.