more-in After illegal mining of sand from dry riverbeds of Noyyal exposed through media, District Collector T.N. Hariharan on Tuesday issued a statement that offenders will be dealt with stringent penal provisions like detention under the Goondas Act. The police too issued a statement on Tuesday that all officers have been directed to prevent illegal sand mining and take action against offenders. District Collector in his statement said that complaints were received on illegal sand mining from the riverbed of Noyyal. Lauding the move from the district administration, P. Ranganathan of Noyyal Paadhukappu Kuzhu which had been fighting against illegal sand mining said the group conducted a survey in sand smuggling areas on Tuesday. “Those engaged in the act are aware of the penal action proposed by Collector through media. We hope that the illegal mining will come to an end,” he said. Ashok Srinithi, deputy secretary of PMK's State youth wing, submitted a petition before the District Collector challenging a report given by the police to the Revenue Department on sand found in a lorry stopped by the party members near Codissia on Avinashi Road on April 13. Mr. Srinithi said that the lorry bearing registration number TN 38 CJ 9591 was carrying sand illegally mined from the riverbed Noyyal from Alandurai for which he claimed of having video and audio records. He said that PMK workers followed the lorry and stopped it near Codissia. The police allegedly took 50 activists of PMK into custody and registered cases against seven people. According to Mr. Srinithi, the police later submitted a report to tahsildar (Coimbatore North) stating that the lorry was carrying M-sand. Along with the petition, Mr. Srinithi also submitted video and audio evidenced to Collector to prove his stand. Peelamedu Police Station Inspector V. Selvaraj said that the lorry was currently in the custody of the tahsildar. “The lorry was not carrying river sand when stopped by the PMK. Revenue Department has informed us that fine will be imposed on the owner of the lorry for having transported the sand without having proper permit,” said Mr. Selvaraj.

Stay updated with all the Coimbatore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.