Collector directed to check on illegal mining in Palar

There has been no end to pleas against illegal sand quarrying reaching the Madras High Court. The recent one to hit the court is about sand quarrying in the banks of River Palar in Vellore district. 

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh, while dealing with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in this regard, directed the Vellore District Collector to verify within a month whether all necessary permissions have been obtained and that quarrying is confined to the area and also the depth permitted. 

The petitioner K G Sekar, an agriculturalist of Kandaneri Village, had submitted that government had permitted sand mining only to the extent of three feet from the surface level. But on the contrary, it has been found that over 20 feet of sand has been mined by local mining barons. 

This, he claimed, has affected over 23 big wells on the banks of Palar River, the main ground water sources for 40 villages. He further claimed that despite villagers together holding a human chain protest on January 24 and sending a series of complaints, the district administration had failed to hold even an enquiry inspection. 

However, government pleader STS Murthi contended that permission for quarrying was offered only on January 25 and the villagers had immediately resorted to a protest. 

Murthi had also submitted that necessary permissions have been granted by the Environmental Impact Assessment Authority.