Residents protest
Following the government’s order to allow a quarry to mine sand in the Palar river at Valavanur village, Tamil Nadu, earth moving machinery were put on the job. The villagers were visibly agitated after seeing huge scoops of sand being lifted and loaded on lorries for transport. They came to the spot and created a ruckus and impounded the earth-moving machine. Arcot taluk police rushed to the spot and held talks with the agitators. Villagers demanded that the mining be stopped as it would affect the local water table which in turn would hamper crop cultivation, not to forget the drinking water issues. Following this, the mining was stopped, and the impounded machine was released. The villagers have threatened to agitate again if the mining is resumed.