Villagers threaten mass suicide

Addakal: Villagers in Ponnakal under Addakal mandal are putting up a stiff resistance to the plans by the authorities to allow sand mining in the nearby stream. The villagers fear that the sand mining will turn their village into a deser.

The State government has proposed to allow to excavate a cubic feet of sand two days in a week and identified 12 villages, including Ponnakal in Addakal and Moosapet mandals for the purpose. A group of officials on Friday visited Ponnakal, but the villagers staged a protest. The villagers took a united stand and resisted the officials.

The officials had to return without carrying out survey. The villagers threatened to commit a mass suicide if the officials abandoned the proposal. Farmers do farming extensively under borewells. The sylvan surroundings in the village are attributed to taking precautions to prevent groundwater table from receding further. Ponnakal presents a pleasant view with greenery all around. The villagers are shell-shocked on learning about the government's proposal to allow sand quarrying.

According to the residents, there are 300 borewells in the village. Not even one borewell go dry so far. Even in summer, there is no water shortage in the village. At a time when the villagers are carefully protecting the ground water table, the decision of the officials will turn the village into a desert, the villagers fear.

So far, there are no drinking water and irrigation problems in the village. If the government allows sand mining, groundwater table may recede. If the sand quarrying is carried out, they have no alternative except to migrate to other places or committing suicide. They are appealing to the State government not to deprive them of their livelihood by giving up its sand quarrying plan.