A group of activists in Tamil Nadu have claimed that illegal sand mining is in process on one of the sites allegedly approved by the Tamil government on the banks of Cauvery river in Karur, and have released a video to support their claims.

The quarry was given a license in December 2015 and they began working on the first site in February, 2016, but activists say that the quarrying is being over above the prescribed limits. “We began fighting against the sand mining in June 2016, we started the movement called, ‘Tamil Nadu Environmental Protection Movement’,” Mukilan, organizer of the Tamil Nadu Environmental Protection Movement.

They have filed a petition against the illegal sand mining at the collector’s office, District Revenue Officer and also the mining department but have not got any response from them.

The villagers, farmers and also people from five panchayats have supported the movement. They claim that they have provided various documents, videos and records as evidence but it is of no use.

In the three-minute video, sand is being seen to be taken from the banks of the river into various lorries.

“About 1000 lorries carry sand from this site everyday. They have been given permission to take sand up to one metre but they take it for about 7 to 8 metres,” said Mukilan, organizer of the Tamil Nadu Environmental Protection Movement.

Speaking about the hazards of sand mining, he said, “In Karur, the Noyyal (dead river) and Cauvery river meet, there are a lot of chemicals from various industries that has plagued the rivers, if the sand is mined, the river cannot filter the river water.”

Noyyal is already a dead river and if sand is removed from this area, there are chances that Cauvery will also get majorly affected by the same chemicals, he said.

He added that this water will also affect the irrigation of farmers in the area. There are about 30,000 people in the area who are dependent on this water, he said.

This sand mining will also affect the drinking water facility. “The water from Karur goes to Dindigul and is used as drinking water, that will also be affected,” he said.

Mukilan blamed the Tamil Nadu government for illegal sand mining in the area. “The work is carried out by Tamil Nadu state quarry but the vehicles are leased out from private companies,” he said.

Watch the video here: