Tamil Nadu: Karur locals oppose new sand quarries in Cauvery's catchment area

Karur (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 5 : Karur residents on Wednesday opposed new sand quarries in the Cauvery River bed area - 16.05-hectare sand quarry at Nerur North Village, Karur District, 24.00-hectare sand quarry at Manmangalam, Achamapuram area.
Civil society members and Opposition parties protested against new sand quarries in the Cauvery River bed in the Karur district, saying that it would lead to shrinkage of water in the river exacerbating the drinking water crisis.
At a public hearing conducted here to elicit the opinion of Civil society members and political parties, they registered their opposition to the construction of new sand quarries in the Cauvery River at two places in the Karur district namely Nerur and Achamapuram areas.
More than 700 people including AIADMK leader and former Minister MR Vijayabaskar, Naam Tamilar Katchi, social activists, Samaniya Makkal Nala Katchi and Pattali Makkal Katchi participated in the public consultation meeting organized by the district administration on Wednesday.
"The Cauvery River is the source of water for 140 villages in Karur district. Also, drinking water is taken from here to the Cauvery Joint Drinking Water Project for the southern districts. If sand is mined in this area, there will be no drinking water for six months. The livelihood of people will be affected," said MR Vijayabaskar.

Notably, sand, which takes a lot of time to deposit, is very important because it stores water and forms the riverbed aquifer. Even if the river is dry, the aquifer will hold water that can be accessed.