CHENNAI: The State-level Expert Appraisal Committee has been directed to inspect a quarry at Oruvanthur in Namakkal district, which is engaged in quarrying in an extent of 16.18.hectares in Cauvery river.
A division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and N Seshasayee gave the directive while passing further interim orders on a PIL from Varadharajan, an agriculturist, on Tuesday. Extending the operation of its interim injunction restraining the quarrying activities granted on November 6 last, the bench also suo-motu impleaded the State-Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, State-Level Expert Appraisal Committee and the Project Director (Sand Mining) as respondents.
The matter relates to an order dated March 12 last of the Collector granting permission for the quarry. The petitioned alleged that Collector accepted recommendations of PWD officials and ignored hardships caused to agriculturists. The bench issued notice to authorities returnable by November 27.