Tamil Nadu - Ramanathapuram   

Illegal sand quarrying equipment seized

Photo: L. Balachandar

IN THE NET: Earthmovers seized by the revenue authorities in Ramanathapuram on Wednesday.

RAMANATHAPURAM: The revenue authorities on Wednesday seized 5 earthmovers, a tractor and a tipper on charge of illegal quarrying at Thiruppullani near here.

Sources said the surprise raid was carried out by the authorities based on complaints that sand being transported illegally from Rajadevi kanmoi for quite some time by a group of people. Some of the tractors sped away from the scene by seeing the police and revenue authorities. However, they could surround all earthmovers, which were used for loading sand onto the tippers and tractors. The drivers could not show any documents or permission for transportation.

The vehicles were taken to the Revenue Divisional Office in Ramanathapuram for further action.

It was on Tuesday that Collector V. Arun Roy conducted a meeting here to discuss the issue of illegal quarrying and action to be taken to control it. The existing sand quarries being run by the Government and the places of water bodies used for illegal transportation of sand, modus operandi of sand smugglers, nexus between official machinery and sand smugglers, lack of coordination among various agencies to enforce rules and regulations and others were discussed.

The officials also discussed about the problems faced by lorry owners in filling sand from government quarries, the acute scarcity of sand faced by the builders, collection of unaccounted fee by a section of officials for selling sand, the role of private and unauthorised persons at the government quarries and others were also discussed in detail.

Streamlining

Mr. Roy said that all steps would be taken to streamline quarrying in the district.

The sand scarcity would be solved soon.

Tough action would be taken against those transporting sand illegally. Officials were asked to step up monitoring against sand smugglers.

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