Cauvery-irrigated districts will become deserts if 26 sand quarries are reopened: Anbumani Ramadoss

CHENNAI: Expressing shock over reports that claimed that the government is taking steps to reopen sand quarries in Cauvery river, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss urged the government to drop the decision as sand mining will affect groundwater levels.

In a statement, Anbumani said that as many as 48 sand quarries were closed down in 2021 due to COVID-19. "After coming to power, DMK has tried to reopen the quarries despite opposition from PMK and successfully reopened 25 quarries in 9 rivers including Cauvery. Again the quarries were closed owing to ED raids and Lok Sabha elections," he added.

Alleging that the government has applied for environmental clearance for reopening 26 quarries, Anbumani remarked that it would turn Tamil Nadu, especially the districts irrigated by river Cauvery, into a permanent desert.

"Realising the negative impacts of sand mining, Kerala and other states have closed sand quarries. Since the quarries in Tamil Nadu are closed due to other reasons, the government should keep the quarries shut permanently. But the government tries to reopen them," he said.

He added that when the government opened 25 quarries, permission was given to mine 7.51 lakh units of sand, but as per a report submitted to the Madras High Court by ED, as much as 27.7 lakh units have been mined within months.

Pointing out that that since sand mining was carried out more than the permitted quantity, he reiterated that the government should not reopen the quarries.

"It is unbecoming of a government committed to people's welfare if it opens quarries citing the welfare of the construction industry. To safeguard the environment, groundwater and people's welfare, the government should drop the decision," he urged.