Bill to detain illegal sandminers under Goondas Act tabled

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Chennai, Aug 4 (UNI) A Bill seeking to detain illegal sandminers under the Goondas Act was introduced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today.

The Bill seeks to replace the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug-offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates (Amendment) Ordinance 2006, promulgated by the Governor.

Introducing the Bill, Revenue and Law Minister I Periasamy said it was brought to the notice of the government that a certain group of people were regularly involved in illicit quarrying and transportation of sand.

After being caught by the authorities, the offenders remitted the penal amount and continued with their illegal acts, causing loss of revenue to the government.

''Such illicit and haphazard sand mining has led to the deepening of river beds, widening of the rivers, damage to civil structures, depletion of groundwater table, degradation of ground water quality, sea water intrusion in coastal areas, damage to river systems and reduction in bio-diversity, apart from causing health hazards and envrionmental degradation,'' the Minister said.

At times, the officials who tried to nab the offenders were subjected to physical violence and the officers at the level of Tahsildars had lost their lives while apprehending them, he said.

Considering the ecological and environmental damage caused by the offenders, the officials who lost their lives and loss of revenue, the government decided to amend the Act to sternly deal with the offenders.

UNI GV GM RL HS1510

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