CHENNAI: NO sand quarrying or dredging activity can be carried out in the Katcharayanpalayam lake in Erumaipatti village in Salem district, the Madras High Court has said.
A division bench of Justices TS Sivagnanam and Justice M Sundar gave the ruling while disposing of a PIL from S Sekar of Atthukadu seeking to prevent illegal sand quarrying from the lake, on August 4.
According to advocate K Selvaraj, the lake consisting of 7-1/2 acres was the only source of drinking water and agricultural activities. Members of a political party (DMK) and the local people had spent money and time to dredge the entire lake area, which took about two months, to store more water during rainy season. The work was completed and there was no more dredging, now.
However, illegal sand quarrying activities continued in the lake even after completion of dredging work by the local people. Hence, the petitioner filed the present PIL to protect the lake, Selvaraj added.
When the matter came up last week, Advocate-General R Muthukumaraswamy told the judges that permission was given to some agriculturists and pot makers to quarry sand and mud for 20 days and it ended in the last week of July. Following a request from Selvaraj, the bench recorded the statement of AG and said no more sand quarrying or dredging activities can be allowed at the lake.