Tamil Nadu: Demand to stop sand mining on government land

Tamil Nadu: Farmers have complained that sand mining is taking place on government land in Thevaram, Theni district.

Uttamapalayam taluk, Thevaram, Gombai, Pannapuram, Pottipuram, and more than 20 surrounding villages are rich in clay and sand. Consequently, sand is being illegally extracted from these areas at night using poclain machines.

There are frequent incidents of animals falling into trenches created by tipper trucks carrying sand and dying while grazing.

In particular, sand is accumulating in water sources such as ponds and puddles, making it impossible to store water. This is causing groundwater levels to decline in these areas, impacting agricultural activities.

A farmer from this area said:

There were hundreds of rivers from the western hills to Thevaram, Gombai, and Pannapuram. Now, many of them have been encroached upon and converted into gardens. In other areas, sand theft by Mamanbas at night is impacting natural resources.

He therefore urged the Revenue Department and Police Department to take appropriate action to stop this sand theft.