MADURAI | Jul 27, 2015: Around 30 people staged a protest in front of the collectorate here on Monday demanding that authorities take steps to stop illegal sand mining in a lake at Ariapatti in Usilampatti taluk.

There are 1,000 families in Ariapatti village, and around 700 families dependent on agriculture for livelihood.

The villagers alleged that sand mining activities in a 350-acre lake, which is the only source of water in the area, adversely affected cultivation.

The farmers submitted a petition to the mines section at the collectorate, and authorities gave them an assurance that they would take steps to stop illegal sand mining activities.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)