Chennai: PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday opposed Tamil Nadu Government’s appeal against the order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court banning sand mining within six months and suspected “political pressure” could be behind the “disastrous move” that amplifies that the administration does not have any concern for environment.
In a statement, Ramadoss said the state government should have in fact welcomed the high court pronounced last week since the court almost echoed the opinion of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami who has been of the view that sand mining has taken a huge toll on the environment in areas around major rivers of the state.
“The verdict by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court was given in the interest of Tamil Nadu and the state government should have actually appreciated the verdict. Though there is no reason for appealing against the verdict, I am at loss to understand what was the need for collectors of Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli to challenge the order,” Anbumani said in the statement.
Suspecting “political bargaining and pressure” behind the appeal against the verdict, Anbumani said the thought of challenging the verdict would have been the last to come on the minds of the collectors of these districts who are busy in relief and rehabilitation work following the devastation by Cyclone Ockhi. “Only pressure from those at the helm could be the reason for the appeal against the order,” the Dharmapuri MP said.
Recalling Palaniswami’s speech at a government event in Madurai in May where he announced that sand mining would be phased out in the next three years to protect environment, Anbumani sought to know the reason behind the appeal when the high court and the chief minister are on the “same page” on the issue.
“The effect of sand mining on the environment and ground water level cannot be explained and the appeal by the state government shows that the dispensation is just not interested in the well-being of the people. I demand that the Tamil Nadu government immediately withdraw the appeal in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court,” he said.
