Chennai, Feb 8 (BPNS)
The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) will reopen sand quarries in the state on February 25 after the Urban local body polls that are to take place on February 19.
The state government had on January 6, announced that 16 river sand quarries for heavy vehicles and 21 sand quarries for bullock carts would be opened in the first week of February. In the second phase, the government is planning to open 63 big quarries and 9 bullock cart quarries.
However, sources in the environment department told IANS that the second phase would be allowed to open only after getting clearance from the Environment Impact Authority (EIA).
The move was postponed due to the government being wary of unnecessary issues in the run-up to elections as well as more hearings were required in certain areas in the Cauvery belt.
Tamil Nadu lorry operators are however worried that following the river sand quarries in the state being shut for several years, the access roads are not suited for transporting even light vehicles. State president of Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Federation, Sella Rajamani while speaking to BPNS said, “ The government must lay proper roads near the sand quarries that are to be opened soon. As the quarries were shut for the past several years, the approach roads are not suited even for plying a light vehicle, leave alone big lorries and trucks that are necessary to transport sand from these quarries.”
He also said that the lorry owners are in a dilemma following the state government announcing the rate of sand as Rs 1000 per unit. He said that the price has to be escalated as the transportation charges will also have to be included with the sand price.
However, Water Resource Department officials told BPNS that the issue of pricing will be settled out after the February 19 urban local body polls. He also said that most of the approach roads to the sand quarries are laid properly but a few are remaining in the Cauvery belt and added that these roads would be laid after government allocates funds for the same.
