Coimbatore: More than 15 members belonging to various organisations and farming bodies met District Collector K. Rajamani today, to brief about the illegal sand mining that has been going on for many years in the Thadagam region here.
Coimbatore: More than 15 members belonging to various organisations and farming bodies met District Collector K. Rajamani today, to brief about the illegal sand mining that has been going on for many years in the Thadagam region here.
The members met the Collector, following a string of complaints against the illegal sand mining activities in Thadagam carried out by brick kiln owners.
According to one of the members, they had explained to the Collector on the various implications of the mining which includes disturbance to wild animals, violation of rules and destruction of water bodies.
“There were many streams in the region 15 years ago and these streams were important water sources for water bodies including Chinnavedapatti lake. These streams are plundered mercilessly by the sand miners and are now left as deep pits,” said S. Ganesh from Thadagam.
He further added that none of the brick kilns have obtained proper permission from the pollution control board, despite emitting harmful pollutants through the chimneys.
“We are facing the brunt of these violations, as people are stricken by asthma, other respiratory ailments and even cancer,” added another member.
Earlier, Vanam S. Chandrasekar, from Vanam India Trust submitted a petition to the Collector claiming that sand mining was leading to more negative interactions between man and elephant conflicts.
“The elephants are dangerously chased and attacked by earthmovers. This is becoming a major threat for elephants. And, four elephants have died in this area in forty days,” stated the petition.
After the meeting, the members claimed that the Collector has promised to take stern action against the perpetrators at the earliest.