CHENNAI: Natural Resources Minister T K Prabhu has ordered inspections of stone quarries across the state following allegations of excess mining and illegal quarrying. According to a press release, more than 2,000 stone quarries are currently operating in Tamil Nadu with government permission, and there have been continuous complaints that several quarries are extracting stones beyond the permitted quantity.
The release also noted that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has prescribed norms regarding the quantity of stones that can be mined from quarries. Apart from complaints that these norms are being violated in several places, there are also allegations that monitoring committees overseeing quarry operations have not been conducting inspections properly.
To assess the ground situation, the minister has directed district-level officials of the department of geology and mining to inspect all quarries in the state and submit reports immediately. Officials have been asked to verify whether quarry operators have extracted stone in accordance with the government’s permission or have exceeded the approved limits. The minister has also instructed officials to gather details on complaints of illegal quarries operating without government approval in the state.
Based on the inspection findings, action will be taken to immediately shut down quarries found violating rules and collect penalties for causing losses to the government, the minister said.