Locals plan anti-sand theft committee as cops ‘helpless’

The sand theft, which was stopped sometime back after locals threatened to boycott the polls, has reportedly resumed two days ago with tractors and lorries quarrying sand from the river at night.

When PR Subramani, a resident, along with a group of locals approached the police for action on the sand mafia. But, cops told them that they were helpless to do anything.

Following this, residents then petitioned the tahsildar and also sent copies of the same to the District Collector and SP threatening to stage an agitation by prostrating at the officials’ feet requesting them to action on the issue.

“We are planning to start and register a Malattar River Anti-Sand Theft Committee within a few days. We are going to act ourselves as police said that they are helpless,” said S Senthil Kumar, a farmer.

On Thursday, a group of 10 residents, which visited the river, had found plastic jerry cans with water kept for operations at along with wood framed sieves for plundering activities at night. “With the town already suffering from acute drinking water shortage, if the pilferage is continued this will only result in the dipping of water table even further,” said PS Balakrishnan, a farmer whose lands are just 500 feet away from the pilferage area.

Another farmer P Paneerselvam wondered, “How can officials be so callous to residents’ grievance despite repeated petitions.”

Expressing a similar view, K Krishnamurthy of the area said, “If the sand theft is allowed to continue, soon we will have to migrate elsewhere where drinking water is available without any problem.”