· At least 3,000 loads of illicit sand enter Chennai daily

· No coordination among enforcement authorities

· PWD lacks power to impound vehicles carrying sand

CHENNAI: Encouraged by high prices and the huge demand for sand, illicit miners are working overtime to make most of the situation. Unlawful quarrying is rampant in almost all major sand-rich river basins in the State, say former lessees of quarries and sand lorry owners.

A visit to the Palaar basin, the key source to meet the building needs of Chennai, revealed that every village and settlement along the dry riverbed is illegally engaged in quarrying loads of sand. "At least 3,000 loads of illicit sand is entering Chennai daily, causing loss of several lakhs of rupees to the State," says V.S. Yuvaraj, president, Federation of Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Associations. Periyapalayam, Padalam, Athur, Thirukkalukundram, Vayalur, Paalar, Villiambakkam and Dhimmavaram are home to major illicit quarries. The main reason for the mindless exploitation is the lack of coordination among the enforcement authorities in the Public Works, Revenue and Mining Departments, he says.

The PWD is in charge of mining and despatching sand from riverbeds, but does not have the power to either impound vehicles transporting illicit sand or proceed against the owners. "There is a high degree of collusion between these illicit operators and enforcement officials," alleges federation secretary R. Panneerselvam. Referring to a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister last week, he says between November 2003 and March 2004, the Government generated Rs. 232 crore through sand receipts. But now, instead of a corresponding rise in revenue, the Government is said to have made only Rs. 140 crore from sand mining last year, he says, quoting a Secretary-level official. Office-bearers say the Government must continue to handle the quarries and sell sand directly to the transporters. It could even increase the rate from Rs. 626 to Rs. 1,000, if it opens more mining points and meets the demand fully.

Mr. Panneerselvam wants an exclusive welfare board created to regulate sand trade and address the problems of owners, workers and consumers. Calling for steps to vacate an interim order of the Madras High Court that legalised second sale of quarried sand, he says smuggling from Andhra Pradesh must be stopped.

No checkpoints

Mr. Yuvaraj says no checkpoints have been created along the smuggling-prone regions to check vehicles transporting sand. He favours creation of district sand mining committees as has been done in the neighbouring States. "It will involve all stake holders, including the locals, in the exercise, and result in more transparency." PWD officials may be vested with limited magisterial powers to seize vehicles and proceed against anti-socials mining or transporting sand, he adds.