PUDUCHERRY | Oct 13, 2015: Sand is being mined indiscriminately from the Ponnaiyar, which supplies water to Bahour Lake in the Union Territory of Puducherry, alleged Bangaaru Vaickal Neeraadhara Koottamaippu.

Sand had been mined illegally from the river near the Sornavur Anicut, the Sitheri Anicut and both upstream and downstream of these dams. The indiscriminate mining could lead to the complete destruction of the anicuts, resulting in the dwindling of the groundwater in Villupuram, Cuddalore and Puducherry districts, affecting about 3,00,000 families in the region, the forum said.

V. Chandrasekhar, president of the forum said, “Even though the National Green Tribunal has banned sand mining in the Ponnaiyar, it is continuing indiscriminately. The sand is being sold across Puducherry and other neighbouring districts of Villupuram and Cuddalore with the full and complete knowledge of the revenue officials of both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.”

The forum also pointed out that the groundwater level in the areas surrounding had come down due to the indiscriminate mining.

P. Arjunan, Keelkarikalpatti Tank Association Secretary said, “Sand is being mined beyond the specified level. Several excavators and 200 tipper lorries were being deployed in the massive illegal mining operation.”

The farmers also said that no water had been released from the Sathanur dam the Bangaru Vaickal for the last six years just to protect the the sand mafia. The vaickal is the main feeder canal for the historic tank of Bahour in Puducherry.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)