Chennai, Nov 25 (NationPress) Massive shipments of river sand are reportedly being smuggled on a daily basis from 10 districts in Tamil Nadu to both Kerala and Karnataka, according to truck owners who assert that this extensive operation is proceeding without oversight, particularly as no legal sand quarries are currently operational within the state. This situation has reignited worries over the escalation of illegal sand mining and has raised critical questions regarding the delayed reopening of government-sanctioned quarries.

Previously, Tamil Nadu had 13 river sand quarries; however, these were all shuttered in 2023 following investigations by the Enforcement Directorate into alleged misconduct by contractors.

In the aftermath of these closures, the Water Resources Department pinpointed 30 new potential quarry sites across 10 districts and successfully secured environmental approvals for them.

Initially, eight sites were earmarked for reopening in the first phase. Nevertheless, the tendering process for appointing contractors for sand distribution has reportedly encountered various irregularities, causing significant delays.

Truck owners contend that this administrative inertia has fostered an environment conducive to illegal sand trafficking operations.

They claim that approximately 3,000 truckloads of sand are being transported out of the state daily from districts including Karur, Namakkal, Pudukottai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, and Cuddalore.

The ongoing delay in resuming legal sand quarry operations has inadvertently allowed smuggling activities to escalate to unprecedented levels.

R. Paneerselvam, president of the Tamil Nadu Sand and Sand Lorry Owners Consolidated Welfare Association, criticized the Water Resources Department for allegedly “turning a blind eye” to the situation after announcing new quarry sites.

He argued that the department's inability to activate these quarries has indirectly supported illegal operators. Paneerselvam also highlighted that officials from the Transport, Revenue, and Geology and Mining Departments—tasked with combatting sand smuggling—have remained unresponsive.

Certain individuals, he noted, manage to obtain approvals from Collectors by referencing land ownership near riverbeds and exploit this as a facade to illegally extract and transport river sand across state lines.

He further asserted that reopening authorized quarries would not only help eliminate smuggling but also protect the livelihoods of countless lorry workers who rely on legal sand operations.

A senior official from the Geology and Mining Department mentioned that enforcement teams act on specific complaints. However, he conceded that vital information related to smuggling activities is often withheld due to the influence of local political figures, complicating effective enforcement.