The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Government move on sand quarrying welcomed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Government move on sand quarrying welcomed

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Tipper Lorry Owners Welfare Association has urged the Government to impose a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on lorries carrying illicit sand.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, S.S. Balaji, general secretary of the association, welcomed the Government's announcement that the Public Works Department would operate sand quarries in the State and that more personnel would be employed to streamline the trade.

Thanking Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for having accepted most of the demands of the association, Mr. Balaji wanted the Government to open more mining points and extend quarry operations by another hour, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Association president P. Kothandaraman said the Government could engage more earthmovers to reduce the waiting time of lorries at quarries.

The office-bearers of the association also denied the claim by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that sand was being sold at Rs. 625 per load during the AIADMK rule. "We paid not less than Rs. 1,200 per load to a person engaged in the second-sale of sand," they said.

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