Tense moments prevailed in Periyathalai after a lorry carrying sand from a sand unit near Nagercoil was confiscated by the villagers of Periyathalai here on Wednesday. Presently, there is a blanket ban on sand mining in Thoothukudi district.
Based on the complaint of the fishermen from Thoothukudi district, a government appointed special panel under Gagandeep Singh Bedi was constituted to examine the illegal mining of sand. Till its report was submitted, the government had ordered a ban on mining beach sand in Thoothukudi district.
The lorry was detained by around 100 villagers and was stationed near Arulappar Mudiyappar church.
Tiruchendur RDO, Migavel Gnanadeepam held talks with the protestors, mostly fishermen..
The RDO told them that the mining ban was applicable only in Thoothukudi and not in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. But the villagers refused to budge. Meanwhile, police sources said the sand was mined from the sand unit owned by V V Minerals and was meant for export.