News
Sand washed up on northern farmland attracts dark hands
View(s):By S. Rubatheesan
Dozens of tippers and tractors have been seen at paddy fields trying to collect sand deposited from the late November flooding.
Farmers in Kandawalai, Vattakachchi, Pannankandy, and Mahizaknkaadu of Kilinochchi say they have informed the authorities, including the Northern Governor’s Secretariat, about the plunder.
Thiyagu Kopalarathinam, a farmer from Mahizankaadu, said he had witnessed at least three tractors on his paddy field but was unable to stop them.
A sand bundin Mannar that was hit by the floods was later found to be mined by illegal sand miners
“Our family was displaced since our house was also flooded, but someone told me that tractors are clearing sand from our land,” he told the Sunday Times.
After the matter was raised with authorities and eventually taken up at the District Development Coordination (DDC) meeting, it was decided to dispose of those sand pits through relevant Pradeshiya Sabhas.
Accordingly, DS offices are instructed to remove the sandpits through public auction. Temporary police posts have been set up in flooded paddy fields to prevent illegal sand mining.
Muththu Sivamohan, secretary of the Iranamadu Farmers Federation, said that as decided at the DDC meeting, those sandpits will be removed legally by DS authorities, but there were certain instances where some parties removed sand illegally.
“The ongoing sand mining poses a huge threat to farmers, particularly those who depend on the Iranamadu tank for farming. Several cluster riverbeds in the region are heavily mined by illegal sand miners. This disrupts the water flow and the bunds of the tanks as well,” he said.
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