Ramadoss leads agitation against sand quarrying

Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, Aug 20 (UNI) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder-leader S Ramadoss and 1,500 others today staged a demonstration at Vidaiyur, near here, demanding an immediate end to sand quarrying at Kusasthali river bed here.

Dr Ramadoss later told reporters that quarrying was being taken up in the area in violation of Mines rules. He led the agitation as hundreds of villagers had met him in his Thailapuram farmhouse and sought his help to stop the menace.

The indiscriminate quarrying, taken up by middlemen, should be stopped immediately as it affected agriculture in 25,000 acres of land and would make the area arid, he demanded, hoping that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi would take immediate action.

The PMK chief also sought action against the local police inspector for threatening the villagers who opposed quarrying, failing which he would organise a separate stir in the Collectorate.

UNI