Edappadi K Palaniswami, O Panneerselvam avoid questions on HC’s sand order

Refuting DMK’s charges about illegal sand mining, Palaniswami said on Wednesday that the state government had taken possession of sand quarries and also introduced the online sale of sand enabled by the monitoring of CCTV cameras from sand quarry to sand lorries.

Speaking at the MGR centenary celebrations in Thanjavur, the Chief Minister said that the government took these measures to make the sand rates affordable. “But a few people approached the court, because of which there was temporary shortage in sand supply. The AIADMK government will never support the fraudulent people and it has the responsibility to execute the court direction. Also, the online sale of sand was introduced to prevent all irregularities,” the CM said. 

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam, who was given a rousing reception at Karumandapam in Tiruchy by his supporters enroute to Thanjavur to attend the MGR centenary celebrations, refused to comment on the high court order directing to close all the sand quarries across the state. 

When the mediapersons raised questions on the issue again, he left the place in a huff.