KANCHEEPURAM: The Public Works Department is said to have taken over sand mining operations on the Palar riverbed from private contractors. Enquiries reveal that the private contractors, hitherto operating quarries at Pinayur and Periyanatham in Kancheepuram district, wound up their operations on Sunday.
From Monday, it was said that the PWD started operating these quarries at Pinayur and Periyanatham and at Ozhukkavakkam in Tiruvannamalai district. Confusion prevailed at the Periyanatham quarry on Tuesday morning as the “changeover” was not publicised properly by the PWD.
A section of lorry drivers were seen engaged in a wordy duel in vain with the persons “posted” at the Periyanatham quarry urging them to collect the token issued by the private contractor on Sunday for loading their vehicles. Meanwhile, residents of Vippedu and Vizhar alleged that sand was being quarried from riverbed near their villages even though it was indicated in the receipts that sand was quarried at Ozhukkavakkam situated a few km away.
Some of the lorry drivers endorsed the villagers’ allegation. They said that sand was being loaded at two different places on the riverbed ahead of Ozhukkavakkam.
PMK demonstration
Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss announced that he would stage a demonstration in Kancheepuram within a fortnight demanding suspension of sand mining operation on the riverbed of Palar.
Disclosing this at a press conference held here on Sunday, Dr. Ramadoss regretted that sand mining was being carried out in this region despite public protest.
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