Lorries confiscated for removing sand in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 September 2003, 18:13 GMT]
The Point Pedro Magistrate, Mr. K.Ariyanayagam, Wednesday ordered the confiscation of two vehicles with sand excavated from the Vadamaradchi coastal area violating the temporary ban imposed by the authorities concerned. Several persons are engaged in removing sand violating the temporary ban imposed, legal sources said.

The Magistrate made the order when the Point Pedro police produced the vehicles and submitted to court that those vehicles had no registration certificates and other required documents, legal sources said.

Removal of coastal sand is allowed only with permission from the local authority concerned and environmental officials, sources said.

Because of the temporary ban, the price of a lorry load of sand has gone up to 12,000 rupees. As such several influential persons are engaged in removing sand stealthily, sources said

The illegal transportation of sand came to light when two vehicles of a convoy transporting sand broke down midway Tuesday. The police took into custody the broken down vehicles with sand and produced in courts, court sources said.

The two vehicles confiscated had been brought down to Jaffna from the southern part of the country, sources said.