Villagers demand closure of govt sand quarry near Mohanur

They said that they would not permit mining till a check dam was constructed across the river in that locality. More than 300 traders also downed shutters at Mohanur town to show their solidarity. Pressing their demand for a check dam, they petitioned the District Collector Asia Mariam on June 12, followed by picketing an earthmover and equipment used for mining at Oruvandur, on June 13. 

Representatives of the struggle committee also petitioned the Chief Minister at the secretariat on June 20. They said that neither the Chief Minister nor the officials gave any assurance to fulfil their demand, due to which the fast was organised on Wednesday. 

Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners’ Association president and the former president of Oruvandur Panchayat Sella Rajamani, who had earlier taken efforts to bring the quarry there, is now heading the struggle committee against the quarry. He said that the sand mining there would affect over 4,000 acres of irrigation.

“It will also affect the Pattanam-Seerappalli water project at Oruvandur that was established in 2007, at a cost of Rs 40 crore. The project is the main source of drinking water for 312 villages in 52 Panchayats in Senthamangalam Taluk,” he added. Former union minister of State for Health and Family Welfare S Gandhiselvan were among those who took part in the fast.