Date:20/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/20/stories/2007082053090600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Groups clash over sand mining

K. Manikandan

TAMBARAM: Tension prevailed at Tirusulam near Pallavaram on Saturday following a clash between two groups over alleged illegal quarrying taking place there.

Ten persons belonging to both groups sustained bleeding injuries as they assaulted one another with stones, clubs and crowbars. On Saturday morning, A.Ramachandran, president of Tirusulam Village Panchayat and about two dozen persons went to Quarry No. 1. They attempted to halt quarrying on in an area adjacent to the permitted site in Quarry No. 1. There are four permitted quarrying sites in Tirusulam village panchayat limits and Quarry No. 1 spreads over 5.45 acres.

The rights for quarrying in this site has been handed over to M.Sekar by the Kancheepuram district administration.

According to Mr. Ramachandran, illegal quarrying was rampant on a ‘hill poromboke’ site next to Quarry No. 1 and following complaints to the Kancheepuram district administration, a team of officials from the Revenue Department inspected the site a fortnight ago and put an end to it.

Defying government orders, a group resumed illegal quarrying a few days ago and when they went to the site on Saturday morning, they were assaulted. However, the contractor of Quarry No. 1, Mr. Sekar charged that his employees were attacked by Mr. Ramachandran’s supporters without provocation. They had nothing to do with the alleged illegal quarrying as they restricted their activities only within the permitted site allotted to them, an aide of Mr. Sekar told reporters.

Personnel at Pallavaram police station have registered a case.