Environmentalists allege widespread illegal sand mining in Karur district

Environmental activists have alleged that Illegal sand mining is rampant at various places on Cauvery and Amaravati Rivers in Karur district.

Ever since the Enforcement Directorate carried out simultaneous searches at various sand quarries in September 2023, no legal quarries are functioning in the district. After the ED searches, the Water Resources Department closed its sand quarries at Nanniyur and Mallampalayam. However, it is alleged that illegal mining is going on at several places on the riverbed of the Cauvery and the Amaravathi.

Till a year ago, illegal sand mining was taking place between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Now, they mine sand and smuggle it to various places such as Namakkal, Salem, Karur, Coimbatore, Tiruppur and other areas of the State round the clock, the environmentalists claim.

Before the ED’s search, the WRD operated only two quarries in Karur district. Now, illegal sand mining is going on at 30 places on the riverbeds of the two rivers. Mettupalayam, Kadambankurichi, Kalipalayam, Vangal, Mallampalayam, Nerur, Vadapagam, Thenpagam, Pudupalayam, Aranganathanpettai, Thirumukkudalur, Thottakurichi, Manmangalam, Amaravathi, Somur, Koyampalli, Thirumanilaiyur, Sukkaliyur, Sellandipalayam and Chinnandankoil are among the places, where illegal sand mining is allegedly taking place. While earth movers are engaged to mine sand from the riverbed, high-powered tipper trucks are used to transport the sand to the riverbank areas, where the sand is stocked. Lorries subsequently transport it to various districts.

“The scale of blatant smuggling of sand from illegal quarries is mind boggling. It is taking place day and night without fear. No one seems to be bothered about law enforcers. We have presented petitions to the Collector, Superintendent of Police, WRD and revenue officials along with video proof. But it is business as usual for the smugglers. It is disheartening,” says R.S. Mugulan, coordinator, Cauvery Protection Movement.

There are instances of locals and environmental activists handing over video footage and photographs of lorries used for the illegal activity, along with the longitude and latitude, to authorities. However, the looting of the natural wealth continues unabated, the activists further say.

“The illegal sand miners excavate sand under the newly constructed bridge between Unniyur and Nerur. No one has bothered to stop it in spite of handing over video clips of the dangerous activities,” says S. Vijayan, a resident of Thavittupalayam.

Mr. Mugilan says the officials should take necessary steps to safeguard the rivers from the sand smugglers

When contacted, a senior official of WRD told The Hindu that the department had received a number of complaints of illegal sand mining at seven places in the district. Barricades had been set up at all vulnerable places to deny entry to lorries and earthmovers to the riverbed areas.

Similarly, the paths leading to the illegal quarries on the riverbed were closed by establishing deep trenches. However, they had been vandalised at a few places. The instances of sand mining had been taken to the notice of police, and complaints were lodged. More steps would be taken to prevent lorries entering the riverbed, he said.