MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has sought a response from the state on a PIL filed seeking action against all illegal quarry activities in Karur, including one operated by Srirangam MLA M Palaniyandi (DMK).
Petitioner C Ezhilarasu, an advocate, said that based on an order passed by the high court in a petition filed by MRK Siva, who alleged that illegal quarrying was being carried out on a large scale in Karur district, an inspection was conducted at the quarries in question, including the one belonging to the MLA.
Subsequently, the Kulithalai revenue divisional officer imposed a penalty of Rs 23.54 crore on Palaniyandi for illegal mining of nearly 5.36 lakh cubic metres of rough stones in excess, despite expiry of the lease period. While the MLA is yet to pay the penalty, quarry activities continue to take place at the site, the petitioner claimed. This was the case in several quarries that he visited in the district.