MADURAI: The public works department on Monday informed the Madras high court that there is no proposal to quarry sand in the Thamirabarani river at Mukkani village in Tuticorin district.
Following this, a division bench of justices P N Prakash and S Ananthi closed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by M Muthiah, a retired government employee, seeking for a direction to forbear the authorities from granting permission for quarrying river sand.
The petitioner stated that people are involved in indiscriminate quarrying of river sand from the Thamirabarani riverbed. The authorities are planning to float tenders from individuals for quarrying of sand from the river. They are duty bound to take action against the indiscriminate sand quarrying in riverbeds and no quarrying operations should be permitted.
The sand smugglers obtain a licence for removal of earth and indiscriminately extract the sand. Prior to issuance of licence, the authorities should carry out a study on the impact of ground water table.
He stated that he had submitted a representation in this regard. Since, the same was not considered, the petitioner moved the HC Madurai bench.
