Residents of Gunia build a temporary barrier with sandbags on the rivulet in December last year and a paddy grower in the village. Telegraph pictures

Groundwater table, agriculture hit

The menace of illegal sand mining continues to ravage River Bhavani in Erode district and remains a cause of serious concern to the farming community. Every night, tractors, trucks and bullock carts continue to transport loads of sand illegally mined from the river to construction sites in the nearby commercial hubs including Coimbatore, Salem and Tirupur. The authorities concerned including the officials of Department of Geology and Mining and the police personnel here remain silent on this issue.

The supply of sand for construction sector is likely to improve with the Central Government approving Andhra Pradesh Government proposal for clearance of mining in 36 sand reaches.

A police head constable, Mahendra Singh, lost his life on Tuesday in Dholpur when he tried to stop a truck carrying illegal sand from Madhya Pardesh. The truck ran over the gead constable, resulting in his instant death. The incident occurred when two policemen, Mahendra and Virendra, noticed four trucks entering from Madhya Pardesh.

According to police sources, one of the trucks ran over Mahendra Singh and the driver of the truck disappeared after the incident, while three other trucks also sped away from the scene.

Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash on Sunday directed District Collector P.M. Ali Asgar Pasha to take stern action against illegal sand-mining from the Bharathapuzha in Shoranur.

Besides illegal sand-mining, hundreds of acres of the riverbed, dried up during the summer, has been converted into vegetable farms. The authorities have not yet taken any action against this.

Bathing ghats remain dilapidated; mosquitoes find breeding ground

Though the temple town of Kumbakonam is blessed with the Cauvery, the glory of the river seems to be slowly dwindling with it being turned into a cesspool during summer and dumping yard for plastics and other wastes. Senior citizens feel that the river could be put into good recreational use by converting it into a boating paradise when it is in full flow.

Agitated over the State government's plan to allow sand quarrying again at the dry Nambiyar riverbed in the district, residents of various villages in Radhapuram taluk submitted a petition to Collector R. Selvaraj on Monday against the move.

Unlike the Tamirabarani, the Nambiar would very rarely experience flood even during active monsoon. Naturally, sand deposit on this riverbed is not so dense and deep.

Agriculture, water supply in Krishnagiri district hit

Illegal sand mining in the main water sources such as South Pennar and the river Markandeya has affected water supply and agriculture in Krishnagiri district. Kodiyalam, Kelevarapalli Dam and KRP Dam are the main water sources for Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts. Many representations by farmers and social activists to supply water from South Pennar to Bargur, Veppanahalli, Berigai, Mathur and Uthangarai have not evoked any response from the authorities.

The State Government will take stringent action against illegal sand mining, said the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa.

CHENNAI: Pointing out that illegal sand mining has been reduced to a great extent after the government headed by her assumed office in May 2011, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Thursday handed out