VELLORE: The CPM is to organise a ‘Walk along the Palar river’ on August 14, demanding the State government to come out with a policy on sand-mining.
This was disclosed by the State executive member of the CPM N Gunasekaran here on Monday.
He said the party cadre would begin the walk from Wallajah to Melvisharam, a distance of 13 km, to highlight illegal sand-mining which had depleted water-levels at Palar. “A clear policy on housing, urban development, resource planning, water management should be developed by the State and the Central governments to protect rivers,” he said, while expressing concern over the incident of killing of a policeman, who tried to stop illegal sand-mining at Arakkonam recently.
Besides, unchecked and illegal sand-mining had affected the living of the people of Vellore and nearby districts, who are dependent on the river for water and sand, he added.
While the CPM was not opposing the legal sand- mining, the district administration and the State government should immediately take into consideration the illegal mining and come out with a policy.
The walk is planned to create awareness on this, Gunasekaran added.
State secretary of CPM G Ramakrishnan would inaugurate the walk and participate in it. In the evening, the party would hold a public meeting in Vellore on the issue, he added. From August 25-31, both the CPM and the CPI would organise a people’s meet across the State, in which cadre of both parties would launch a door-to-door campaign to sensitise people to various compelling issues confronting the common man.
“We will create awareness on various policy issues such as the government move to allow foreign direct investments (FDI) in defence and insurance sectors and spiraling cost of living, through handbills, Gunasekaran said.
District secretary of CPM A Narayanan said a fast would be organised by the party on the Palar issue on September 1 in Vellore. An agitation would also be held on August 11, demanding opening of the Arcot road for two-way vehicular traffic.