Tamil Nadu official booked for illegal lake-bed excavation ahead of party event

Officials in Tamil Nadu have booked E.V. Velu and others in connection with illegal excavation of a lake bed, allegedly conducted to prepare a site for a party event. The case centres on the unauthorised extraction of sand from approximately 8 acres of the waterbody, which authorities say violated environmental and mining regulations.

According to investigations, approximately 45.72 million cubic feet of sand was allegedly transported from the lake bed. The state government has valued the extracted material at ₹8.22 crore, representing a substantial loss to the Tamil Nadu exchequer.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about unauthorised mining and environmental degradation in the state. Lake bed excavation without proper clearances threatens water retention capacity and ecological balance, prompting regulatory authorities to strengthen enforcement measures.

Further investigation into the matter is underway, with authorities examining the chain of approvals and permissions that may have been granted for the operation. Such cases underscore the need for stricter oversight of natural resource extraction in environmentally sensitive areas.