TIRUCHY: Sand lorry owners and drivers attempted to besiege the PWD office in Tiruchy on Friday, demanding to open sand quarries for their livelihood.

According to the protesting members, after ED searches and subsequent filing of cases against the sand quarries, they have been closed since 2023, and so the sand transportation has been stopped, and more than 55,000 lorry owners and drivers across the state, including the bullock cart owners, have lost their livelihood.

They demanded to reopen the closed sand quarries. They said that they had approached the officials several times but in vain.

On Friday, around 500 members assembled in front of the PWD office in Tiruchy and staged a protest. Suddenly, they attempted to besiege the office, and the police who were deployed prevented them.

While speaking to reporters, the sand lorry owners association president Chella Rasamani said the court has not ordered the closure of the sand quarries. He said that the state government should ensure the livelihood of the people depending on sand quarries.

“We have sent petitions to the government several times, but no step has so far been initiated”, Rasamani said. He appealed to the state government to pay heed to their demands and ensure their livelihood; otherwise, the protests would be intensified across the state, he warned.