Summary:
Coimbatore: Farmers allege that illegal sand mining continues unabated in water bodies across the city despite the state government allowed sand quarrying on a strictly monitored basis. These departments should create a committee to keep vigil over mining prone villages and prevent sand theft,” said Palanisamy. Because of this, many water bodies in the district are unable to hold rainwater for long time. “Sand had been mined so deep in that once perennial river,” he said.Farmers say the revenue, mines and agriculture departments must work together to prevent illegal mining. “Due to illegal mining, water bodies including the Kowsika river failed to get filled up naturally, which in turn affects hundreds of acres of farming land in the vicinity,” said Palanisamy..