DMK condemns opening of 70 new sand quarries

In a statement on Wednesday, he issued a stern warning saying, “If the ruling AIADMK failed to reconsider its decision, the DMK will join hands with public and farmers and stage massive protests.” 

Stating that natural resources largely from rivers like Cauvery delta, Thamirabarani and Palar rivers had already been exploited, Stalin pointed his finger at both former PWD minister O Panneerselvam and current Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who also holds PWD portfolio, and alleged that these two persons were operating like ‘sand mafia’. The tale of sand mafia, which started with Sekhar Reddy, has gone to the CBI, he added. 

Still villagers and farmers have been fighting with such sand mafia across the state, as sand mining has affected ground water level in the rivers, he pointed out. “During our regime in 2008, we took steps to use M-sand, but the AIADMK government failed to continue it. In such a condition, Chief Minister Palaniswami, on May 5, 2017, announced that the government will take over all the sand quarries and sell the same,” Stalin said.