Tamil Nadu government has been requested by sand mining workers to lift the ban in force on beach sand mining in the state. Workers dependent on beach mineral sand mining industry have urged the State government to restore their livelihood by lifting the ban on mining activity.
Confederation of coastal workers in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari Districts said over two lakh families are dependent on the income from jobs in beach sand mining companies. They have lost their income following the ban imposed by the Government on the private mining companies.
The State government on September 17 imposed a ban on mining for beach minerals – ilmenite, garnet and rutile – following allegations of over exploitation and illegal mining.