Truckloads of river sand smuggled daily from TN to other states, claim lorry owners
Chennai, Nov 25
Truckloads of river sand is being smuggled every single day from 10 districts in Tamil Nadu to Kerala and Karnataka, allege truck owners who also claim that the large-scale operation continues unchecked despite no legal sand quarries currently functioning in the State.
Their claims have renewed concerns over the surge in illegal sand mining and raised fresh questions about why the long-promised reopening of government-approved quarries remains stalled.
Tamil Nadu had earlier operated 13 river sand quarries, but all were shut down in 2023 after the Enforcement Directorate launched investigations into alleged irregularities involving contractors.
Following the closure, the Water Resources Department identified 30 new locations across 10 districts and obtained environmental clearance for them.
Eight sites were selected for reopening in the first phase. However, the tender process for appointing contractors for sand distribution reportedly faced irregularities, delaying the entire plan indefinitely.
Truck operators say that this administrative paralysis has created the ideal environment for illegal sand networks to thrive.
They allege that massive quantities of sand — around 3,000 loads daily — are being transported out of the State from districts such as Karur, Namakkal, Pudukottai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore.
According to them, the prolonged delay in reopening legal sand quarries has allowed smuggling to flourish on an unprecedented scale.
R. Paneerselvam, president of the Tamil Nadu Sand and Sand Lorry Owners Consolidated Welfare Association, accused the Water Resources Department of “turning a blind eye†after announcing the new quarries.
He claimed that the department’s failure to operationalise them has indirectly aided illegal operators. He also alleged that officials from the Transport, Revenue, and Geology and Mining Departments — who are responsible for curbing sand smuggling — have remained silent.
Some individuals, he said, secure approval from Collectors by citing patta lands near riverbeds and use this as a cover to illegally extract and transport river sand across State borders.
Paneerselvam added that reopening authorised quarries would not only curb smuggling but also safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of lorry workers dependent on legal sand operations.
A senior official from the Geology and Mining Department said that flying squads take action whenever specific complaints are received. However, he admitted that crucial information on smuggling operations is often withheld due to the influence of local political leaders, making effective enforcement a challenge.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from Chennai, I've seen construction costs skyrocket due to sand shortage. But illegal mining is not the solution. The authorities need to act fast before our rivers are completely destroyed.
The political interference mentioned by the official is the real problem here. Until we break this nexus between politicians and illegal operators, nothing will change. Very disappointing situation.
My cousin works in construction in Kerala. He says they get regular supply from TN. The system is so well-established that everyone knows about it but no one stops it. Corruption at its worst! ðŸ˜
While I agree illegal mining is bad, let's not forget the thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on this. The government should have had a proper transition plan instead of just shutting everything down.
Environmental clearance obtained for 30 locations but still no action? This shows complete administrative failure. Our rivers are paying the price for bureaucratic delays. Very sad situation indeed.
The patta land loophole needs to be closed immediately. How can collectors approve such permissions without proper verification? This is how the system is being gamed. Time for strict monitoring! 💪
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