The Tamil Nadu Agriculturists Association has appealed to the district administration to take stern action against the sand mafia operating in the district to safeguard natural resources.

In a memorandum to the District Collector, T.N. Hariharan, the association president (district unit), S. Palanisamy, said that tons of soil and gravel was being smuggled from river beds in rural Coimbatore.

“Rivers including Noyyal and Koushika are being targeted by these men. They work at nights so that they do not get caught. It is rampant in areas including Sulur, Mettupalayam, Madukkarai, Kinathukidavu and Pollachi,” he said.

Officials from the Public Works Department, Department of Mineral Resources and others should handle the issue and arrest the culprits, he pointed out.

“We believe that sand is being transported to Kerala and other states. Natural resources can be saved only when we stop this,” the memorandum read.