Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Chennai, Oct 28 (IANS) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss has strongly condemned the Tamil Nadu government’s reported decision to open 30 new sand mines across the state, calling it a “shocking attempt to sell off the state’s natural resources for personal gain”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Anbumani, citing media reports, said that in the first phase, eight new sand mines will come up from November 1 – three in Pudukkottai district, two in Cuddalore, and one each in Thanjavur, Namakkal and Ranipet.
“Despite repeated exposure of large-scale irregularities, the DMK government has continued to plunder the mineral wealth of Tamil Nadu. This is highly condemnable,” he said.
The PMK leader reminded that since coming to power in 2021, the DMK government had already opened 25 sand mines in nine rivers including Cauvery, Kollidam, Vappar and Vellar in May 2023.
Permission was given to extract 7.51 lakh units of sand from these sites. However, he alleged that a survey conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in September 2023 revealed that 27.7 lakh units of sand were actually mined – almost four times the permitted quantity.
“This proves that sand extracted in a few months is equivalent to sand mined in ten years. There are credible allegations that the illegal revenue generated from this sand mining has been spent in illegal financial transactions,” Anbumani said.
He said that despite such findings, the DMK government is continuously trying to reopen or expand sand mines. Recent environmental clearance for new mining operations, he said, was “nothing more than a cover up for organized plunder”.
Warning that over-exploitation of river beds has already led to severe groundwater depletion and seawater intrusion into coastal areas, he said the PMK had long demanded construction of check dams to recharge the aquifers.
“Instead of protecting nature, the DMK government is destroying it out of greed,” he alleged.
Describing it as “the biggest mineral scam in the history of Tamil Nadu”, Anbumani demanded a CBI inquiry into it and said that the people would soon give an appropriate verdict in the upcoming assembly elections.
“The so-called Dravidian model has turned into a plunder model. DMK will be held accountable,” he said.
–IANS
fish/svn