
Rampant quarrying of soil from Kadambankulam irrigation tank in Arunachalapuram by contractor for road work has been opposed by the villagers in Sivakasi Taluk.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Residents of Arunachalapuram vilage in Saminatham Panchayat in Sivakasi Taluk have raised their arms against “rampant” mining of earth from Kadamabankulam irrigation tank for Sivakasi Ring Road project.
The villagers, led by their head, S. Ayyanar, have petitioned Virudhunagar Collector, N.O. Sukhaputra, complaining that the contractor has violated all the quarrying conditions.
The petition, signed by several villagers, alleged that Kadambankulam tank was the primary water source for the village with five deep borewells sunk inside it.
“However, the officials had given “false” information and misguided the Collector in giving permission to quarry the earth,” Mr. Ayyanar said.
The quarry operator had dug deeper into the irrigation tank for some 12 feet in different locations.
“This has destroyed the uniform bed of the tank and thus water will not flow into the sluice as the bed level has been reduced below the sluice level,” he complained.
The irregular depth of the tank bed will pose danger to children, people go for fishing and also cattle, when water fills up the huge and deep pits.
When the water falls into deeper pits it will fail to recharge the wells around the tank used for irrigation.
The petition charged that the officials had not heard the villagers before allowing the quarry. No notice was issued to the villagers. Besides, the frequent movement of trucks carrying the quarried soil was posing danger to students and villagers as they are driven dangerously. Besides, the earth is not covered in the trucks spreading dust all over the village.
Several trees inside the tank were destroyed.
The villagers have already lodged a complaint with the Malli police station.
Published – August 18, 2025 10:38 pm IST