Lorry owners threaten to picket PWD office if govt. fails to open sand quarries
The Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation has threatened to picket the PWD office if the government does not reopen sand quarries by October 14. The federation argues that reopening quarries would provide jobs, increase dam water capacity through desilting, and curb illegal mining.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the economic impact of resource management policies on local transport industries and the environmental consequences of illegal mining.
The Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation (TNSLOF) has demanded that the government open sand quarries across the State by October 14. If not, it warned, its members will picket the Public Works Department (PWD) division head office in Tiruchi on October 16.
Sand quarries in the State were closed three years ago, affecting the livelihood of over a lakh drivers, cleaners, and lorry owners. As many as 55,000 lorries used to be operated in the business.
TNSLOF president Sella. Rajamani said courts have not stayed opening of sand quarries. Most dams, including the Mettur dam, have not been desilted for decades. If these dams are desilted, lakhs of units of sand will come to the market and increase the water-storing capacity in dams.
The government can sell the sand through online booking, earn revenue and also ensure that people get sand at affordable prices.
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