Social activists have urged the State government to order a detailed investigation into the “vanishing hills and hillocks and pristine waterbodies” of Salem district, which fall prey to mindless and illegal mining for commercial purposes.

Saying that the loss to the State exchequer would run to Rs.1000 crore, members of ‘Speak Out Salem,’ a forum that highlights public interest issues, has blamed the contractors and subcontractors of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for “swallowing up” many a hillock that once dotted the district’s skyline and for destroying its lakes, the livelihood resources of farmers and villagers.