TN suspends beach mineral mining, probe ordered

A special team headed by Revenue Secretary would study the 71 quarries

Tamil Nadu government today ordered a probe to ascertain if irregularlities have occurred in 71 large mineral quarries engaged in extraction of beach minerals in the state and suspended operations till its completion.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, following up on her action against allegations of illegal mining of beach minerals like Garnet, Ilmenite and Rutile in Tuticorin District, ordered a probe in large mineral quarries in Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Madurai and Tiruchi districts.

"A policy decision on large mineral quarries would be taken after the receipt of the report on these quarries," she said in a statement here.

A special team headed by Revenue Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, which also included six sub-committees and comprising top officials from revenue, environment and forests besides geology and mining, that went into charges of illegal beach sand mining in Tuticorin, would study the 71 quarries.

Earlier today, Bedi submitted a report to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on mining in Tuticorin District after field studies in August.