Madras High Court Orders Surprise Raids At Mining Sites To Stop Illegal Quarrying In The State

Hearing the plea on June 29, advocate-general R. Shunmugasundaram filed a report as directed by the court.

Madras High Court

Chennai: Madras High Court has recommended Tamil Nadu government to form a committee that conducts surprise inspections to check illegal quarrying across the state.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy made the observation while hearing a public interest writ petition looking for action against illegal quarrying menace in the state.

Hearing the plea on June 29, advocate-general R. Shunmugasundaram filed a report as directed by the court.

The arguing counsel for petitioner submitted that the quarrying has been stopped in view of court order.

According to TOI reports, “Though the petitioner suggests that appropriate action has been taken against illegal quarrying in the state, though, it is difficult to accept that illegal quarrying has been stopped completely.

As per the bench, “Even the report filed by the principal secretary to the industries department looks a fortnight's time to file a detailed report,” the bench said.

As per court order, “A committee or an inspection team to be constituted with a mandate to make surprise checks and visits if the menace or mafia behind illegal quarrying is to be stopped at all,” the court added.

The court then adjourned the plea to July 27, for the state to file a detailed report.

The court had directed the state to turn strict on those exploiting the mineral wealth of the state by illegal quarrying.

This matter said to be pending for a few weeks due to the second wave of the pandemic on which the court issued its suggestion.

Apperntly, illegal mining is has been a major issue in Tamil Nadu for past few years in as the sand mafias have been quarrying rocks and river sands causing a threat to the state reservoirs.

In such a case, Madras High Court suggestion on raiding illegal quarrying and controlling mine mafia is crucial to the state. 

(With inputs from TOI)