Date | June 19, 2017:

Sub-Col0lector of Karaikal R. Kesavan in his capacity as Sub-Divisional Magistrate of the district has issued orders promulgating Sec. 144 (1) of Criminal Procedure Code, banning entry of any person or persons in two places where sand is quarried illegally.

In an order issued here on Monday, he said that the ban would be in force for two months with effect from June 16.

A decision to this effect was taken to ‘prohibit unlawful entry of members of the public from entering the government dry land in Survey No 3/15 and 3/10 in the Ponbethy revenue village along the southern bank of Nandalar river in Kulakudy, Andoor and Usupoor hamlets.

Similarly, the ban will be effective for two months with effect from June 16 at Kurumbagaram revenue village on the northern bank of Nandalar river. No vehicle would be allowed to enter the area, the order said.

The order is based on reports by the Revenue authorities about the intermittent illegal sand mining in these two places. Frequent raids had been conducted in the area. But it had not yielded the desired results and the mining was a recurring menace.

“Offenders flee from the site on sighting officials or squad personnel,” Mr. Kesavan said.

This is the first time that such a ban is being ordered in the district to check illegal quarrying of sand.

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