With the report just being submitted, critics are questioning why two other districts that see rampant illegal mining have been left out of the purview of the probe.
Selective sand mining probe in Tamil Nadu generates heat
When the Tamil Nadu government ordered a probe last month into the illegal mining of beach sand in Tuticorin, after the contentious transfer of the collector who raised the issue and pinned the blame on mining baron S Vaikundarajan's business, it seemed enough to put the controversy to rest.
Now, with the report just being submitted, critics are questioning why two other districts that see rampant illegal mining have been left out of the purview of the probe. More so, since the letter of the now-transferred Tuticorin collector Ashish Kumar to chief secretary Sheela Balakrishnan, on the basis of which the state government ordered a probe, clearly mentions illegal mining activity not just in Tuticorin (where the probe was undertaken) but also Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari. ET has a copy of Kumar's letter.
Former IAS officer V Sundaram, who wrote to the state administrators regarding rampant illegal mining early this year, much before it was brought to light by Kumar, told ET, "In Thoothukudi (Tamil name for Tuticorin), Vaikundarajan's mining operation is only 15%. The balance 85% is in Tirunelveli (65%) and Kanyakumari (20%). Only 15% is being investigated now." He said, "The rest is left out and it's clearly an eyewash." He said he believes only a CBI investigation can result in justice.
In a three-page letter dated August 6, 2013, the day he was transferred, Kumar wrote to the chief secretary: "Beach sand mining is being done in large scale in the three districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari.
Although, most of the quarry owners have obtained quarry leases, a majority of them indulge in illicit mining in and around their lease area because the minerals contained in the beach sand (such as garnet, ilmenite and rutile) fetch very high prices."
Former IAS officer V Sundaram has alleged that illegal mining by Vaikundarajan has been worth over Rs 96,000 crore over the years. Kumar couldn't be reached for his comments.
Gagandeep Singh Bedi, who headed the probe, wasn't available for comments as well. His report is not yet public.
Political leaders have been largely silent on this issue, save for a press release issued byCPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan last month.
In that, he had called on the government to probe other districts such as Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Madurai as well as Tiruchirapalli, where mineral rich sands have been allowed to be mined.
The letter, in Tamil, said thousands of acre of government and private land have been opened up for mining. In 2006-07 to 2012-13, over 15 lakh tonne of minerals worth billions of dollars was estimated to have been exported from Tuticorin port alone by a few private players. These players, it alleged, have got the mining leases at dirt cheap rates.
CPI (M)'s Tuticorin secretary KS Arjunan said, "The government should probe into what's happening at Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari too."
The controversy erupted on August 6 when VV Minerals, the company promoted by Vai kundarajan, was raided following complaints that it as quarrying rich beach sand illegally. Almost immediately, the collector Kumar was transferred.
He's now with the department of social welfare and nutritious meal programme. His transfer came in the wake of the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal who is said to have cracked down on illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh.
Comments
Devidas (Bangalore)
19 Hours agoWhat is the Governor doing? What is the Union government doing? If nothing, why are they there?
probing abt corruption --politicians raising brows--which is expected from them.