using defamation lawsuits, intimidation, and threats of violence. For instance, Sandhya Ravishankar, a Chennai based journalist had to face a targeted harassment and hate campaign for writing a 4 part series of articles published in The Wire on illegal beach sand mining. Pacification of locals In response to local protests and opposition in many villages affected by their activities, sand miners began to employ a combination of rewards and threats. They provided funding to local temples, and for local festivals. They provided money to village panchayats and those running for it, paying Sarpanches Rs 40 lakhs (4 million), ex-Sarpanches Rs 20 lakhs (2 million), and the local leaders of parties Rs 1-2 lakhs (100 thousand to 200 thousand) each. Later on they began distributing cash to villagers on a per ration card basis, with the exact amount varying by the region, The Hindu had reported a figure of Rs 5000 per Ration card for two villages in Vellore district, while Scroll.in had reported a figure of Rs 4700 for villages in Villupuram district. This along with the domination of sand mining in the local economy, has led to some villagers turning hostile towards any attempts to stop sand mining in their village. Legal battle There have been numerous petitions against illegal sand mining in the courts and the National Green Tribunal. In 2001, the Madras High Court in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) cancelled all mining leases granted without an auction. In 2010, the Madras High Court issued an order halting sand mining on Thenpennaiyar river, however this order was only implemented for a month by the administration In 2013 the National Green Tribunal banned illegal sand and mineral mining in beaches of Tamil Nadu and Kerala without environmental clearances. However, this order too was not implemented on the ground. In November 2017, the Madras High Court ordered all sand mining and quarrying to be banned in the state within 6 months and halted the issuance of any new leases, and ordered the state government to enact regulations on import of sand. The Madras High court refused to stay the order in response to an appeal by the Tamil Nadu government. The Supreme Court stayed this order in the following year. In April 2022, the National Green Tribunal directed the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu to form a permanent panel to monitor illegal sand mining in Chennai, in