A quarry vehicle transporting stones on a water channel in Vadipatti taluk.
Several parts of the newly laid 4-km-long road from Katchaikatti to Andipatti bungalow have been damaged owing to operation of the iron-wheeled quarry vehicles.
Villagers of Katchaikatti and Ramayanpatti in Vadipatti taluk said that after several protests and representations to the district administration, the road work, which was started last year at a cost of ₹2 crore, was completed recently.
“Within three days of the completion of road laying works, heavy vehicles fitted with iron wheels are being operated on the roads to transport stones and equipment to and from the quarry sites,” they alleged.
Gnanasekaran, a resident of Katchaikatti, said that according to mining rules, such vehicles known to be damaging pathways should be operated only inside the quarry sites, but against the rules, the operators drive the vehicles through the public roads to reach their sites.
Due to the several deep scratches on the roads, two-wheelers and autos crossing the road tend to lose balance, he added.
When the villagers have finally got a road after struggling for so long years, they could not withstand the damage caused very easily by the quarry vehicles, he said.
“According to section section 36 (1)(A) of the Tamil Nadu Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 1959, quarry vehicles should not use waterbodies, with or without water, to operate their vehicles. But the vehicles of about seven stone quarries being operated in the village carry the stone on the Vaguthumalai channel to reach their quarries,” he added.
Despite rules restricting usage of waterbodies to transport extracted materials, quarry vehicles use the channel, which transports water to the Karpamaniyakaran kanmoi during rainy seasons, he alleged.
Though now the channel is empty, the uneven surface caused due to repeated movements of heavy vehicles might cause a problem once water starts to flow, Mr. Gnanasekaran said.
Passing through the channel once or twice would not be an issue but crossing it several times would definitely make the surface uneven, he stated.
Revenue officials said that the issue would be looked into and necessary action taken.
Published – February 08, 2025 08:36 pm IST