Enquiries reveal that the demonstrators, led by elected representatives of Oorapakkam panchayat and local politicians, blocked the lorries passing through their village to Kilambakkam lake for sand mining, at around 10 a.m.

‘Suspend sand mining’

Alleging that indiscriminate mining operation in the lake would deplete groundwater in the area, they demanded immediate suspension of the mining operations.

Police personnel who reached the spot convinced the agitators to withdraw their demonstration since the mining operations were being carried out with permission from the district administration.

Several lorries heading for the Kilambakkam lake were parked in the service lane of Grand Southern Trunk Road near Oorapakkam in view of the demonstration. Sand mining and transportation operations resumed after noon.