Environmentalists Petition District Collector Against Illegal Sand Mining in Tamil Nadu Lakes

Members of the Green Environmental Protection Association have submitted a formal petition to District Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar in Madurai, alleging illegal sand and gravel mining in the Thirali and Maravankulam lakes within the Thirumangalam taluk. The environmentalists claim that these water bodies, which support thousands of acres of agricultural land, are being systematically destroyed by extraction activities reaching depths of over 15 meters. The petition highlights that gravel is being mined for road construction, with roads built inside the lakes and debris dumped in violation of regulations. Despite previous complaints from local residents, the activists allege that no action has been taken and that officials may be complicit. Advocate Thirumalairaj noted that a case has also been filed in the High Court due to the failure to follow existing judicial guidelines. The District Collector assured the petitioners that an investigation would be conducted by mining department officials. The group urges the newly formed government to take immediate and effective action to prevent the total destruction of these critical ecological and agricultural resources.