TIRUNELVELI: The Geology and Mining Department has imposed penalty totalling Rs 45 crore on several stone quarries in Tirunelveli district over the past three years following drone-based surveys and inspections.
According to a written reply given by M Mahboob Khan, the assistant director of Mines, dated December 17, to a petition submitted by Tenkasi Iyarkai Vala Sangam secretary S Jameen, inspections were carried out across the district, after an accident took place in a quarry at Adaimithippankulam in Palayamkottai taluk in 2022.
Based on violations detected, fine totalling around Rs 40 crore was imposed, of which about Rs 38 crore has been collected, and steps are under way to collect the remaining Rs 2 crore, he added.
The official further stated that periodic drone surveys are being carried out in phases. In Phase I and Phase II, around 22 quarries were surveyed and fine of nearly Rs 5 crore was imposed, of which about Rs 4 crore has been collected.
In Phase III, around 14 quarries have been surveyed using drones and the reports are under examination. Further action will be taken after the reports are received, the official said.
Referring to monitoring mechanism, the department said checkposts have been established in Tirunelveli district to keep watch on vehicles transporting minerals. Vehicles found carrying minerals without permits are seized.
To curb irregularities such as the use of fake transit passes, decoding sheets have been shared with the police, revenue officials and the district administration to enable quick detection and action. Assistant Director also noted that taluk-level and divisional-level monitoring committees are functioning to ensure continuous oversight of quarry operations.
Jameen, in his petition, had sought details of drone-based measurement of all operational, inactive and expired-lease stone quarries in Tirunelveli district, citing alleged illegal mining and transport of minerals through Puliyarai to Kerala.
Speaking to TNIE, Jameen said he was not satisfied with the reply of the AD adding that the penalty of around Rs 262 crore, imposed by the district administration, was reduced by the previous Commissioner of Mines and Geology. “The officials failed to stop mineral smuggling to Kerala causing loss of several thousand crores of rupees to the State’s exchequer,” he alleged.