01217nas a2200121   4500000000100000008004100001260003200042100002500074700002000099245007600119300001400195520088600209       2008                            d  c2008bRoutledegeaNew Delhi1 aBenjamin Larroquette1 aGaspard Appavou00aSand Mining in Coastal Tamil Nadu: A Threat to Local Irrigation Sources  a223-226, 3 aVada Agaram is a small coastal village situated approximately 120 km south of Chennai and 30 km north of Pondicherry in the Marakanam block, Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. The soil here is very sandy. The conflict began sometime in 1993 when it was discovered that the sand in some areas of Vada Agaram contained high levels of pure silica, a material used mainly for cement grade testing and glass production. The Mining Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu decided to utilise this resource. The villagers opposed the move claiming that the removal of sand would affect the availability and quality of water in the springs. The protest on East Coast Road was probably the highest point of the conflict. The villagers obviously want the mining to stop because they feel that it will gravely impact the natural springs that are their source of irrigation and drinking water.