Tension prevailed at Veerarakkiyam lake in Karur district after local residents intervened to stop the removal of large quantities of silt, allegedly under the pretext of using it for the construction of a bridge.
For the past week, more than two earthmovers had been deployed at the lake to load silt into heavy Taurus trucks. Thousands of truckloads are suspected to have been removed.
When residents enquired about the operation, they were told that the silt was being transported with the Collector’s permission for the construction of a national highway bridge at Veerarakkiyam.
Following this, Panneerselvam of the V.D. Leaders organisation and other residents visited the lake to question those involved. The operators subsequently left behind the earthmovers and trucks and left the spot.
Panneerselvam alleged that the silt was being removed from the lake in the name of the national highway overbridge project. He questioned the quantity of silt authorised for removal and the amount actually taken, and alleged that the authorities concerned had refused to show the Collector’s order.
He also alleged that farmers were denied silt for agricultural purposes, while the administration was turning a blind eye to its alleged commercial exploitation.
