The survey was being undertaken by 18 teams comprising senior Deputy Collectors and would be monitored by District Collector Anshul Mishra, officials said here.
The teams would survey the granite area where quarrying is permitted by the government to findout any illegalities.
Former district collector U Sahayam, who was recently transferred as Managing Director of Co-Optex Ltd, in his report to the State Industries department had put the loss caused by illegal granite quarrying in Melur near here at Rs 16,338 crore.
In his report sent to the Industries Department Secretary, made public by an RTI activist, Sahayam had said: "The loss related to illegal quarrying at Keelavalavu, Keelayur, E Malampatti and Semminipatti villages in the district by some private players is expected to be around Rs 16,338 crore to the exchequer".
He said the state-owned Tamil Nadu Minerals Ltd could have earned several crores of revenue if it had managed the quarries on its own instead of leaving it to private players.
The officials began the survey with the help of the revenue and excise officials. According to sources, intelligence sleuths were also monitoring the entire operations.
According to report, miners had encroached vast area of 'poramboke', 'boomidhan' and 'panchami' lands, tanks and ponds. There were also cases of private lands being forcefully grabbed by granite companies.
