Villagers of Kudumiyanmalai have urged the district administration to take strict action against illicit quarrying of sand in the Vellar. In a memorandum submitted to V.Kalaiarasi, Collector, villagers alleged that illegal quarrying of sand has been brisk in villages in and around Seranur and Parambur village panchayats both near Kudumiyanmalai. Ground water table in the area would deplete and would impede agricultural operation, they said. The villagers pleaded for immediate intervention by the district administration, as their repeated pleas with Revenue officials in Iluppur taluk office have not yielded results. Expressing concern over the illegal quarrying, S.R.Rajendran, a resident of Kudumiyanmalai says the village of Seranur was the worst affected. The village was totally marooned during the floods in 1977 and the residents were shifted to safety in Kudumiyanmalai. “The quarrying of sand in this low-lying zone will pose a serious danger to the life and property of the villagers,” he says. He said bullock carts were being utilised for moving sand from the river to be transported through lorries later. The villagers also pointed out that the Vesalur anicut would weaken, as a large number of trucks were passing through it.