Revenue department initiates action on excess quarrying, farmers’ association shelves protest plan insidelooknews

The Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Protection Association shelved a protest it had planned on Wednesday over excessive mining of stones by a private quarry at Kondangipalayam following a directive issued by the district administration to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruppur, to take necessary action.

Citing the report submitted by the taluk-level task force based on an inspection it had carried out on March 25, District Collector T. Christuraj had asked to submit a report on the action taken.

The report of the task force stated that the private quarry had mined 2,81,162 metres of ordinary stones, and 44,068 metres of gravel, during two phases of its permit period: Dec 12, 2008 to Dec. 11, 2013, and from Oct 24, 2011 to Oct 23, 2016.

The committee had carried out the survey utilising DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) equipment for determining the extent of excess quarrying.

The RDO has been asked to initiate action under 1959 Tamil Nadu Minor mineral Concession Rules, and the Government Order 170 issued by the Industries Department on August 5, 2020.

Under, rule 36-A of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules, penal action is initiated for excess quarrying within a lease area. Penalty is imposed for contravention of rules.

The Government Order 170 pertains to action to be taken on vehicles transporting mineral without transport permit.