Special team to submit final report on illegal sand mining

CHENNAI: The special team constituted by the Tamil Nadu government to probe illegal sand mining in Tuticorin district will submit its final report in a month.

The team, comprising officials from the Departments of Revenue, Environment and Forests, Geology and Mining would take up simultaneous inspection of all the six lease sites in the district, a Government Order today said.

Each team would comprise a Senior Deputy Collector, an Assistant Director of Survey (along with Inspector of Survey and Staff), an Assistant Director of Mines or Assistant Geologist from the Department of Geology and Mining and a Divisional Environmental Engineer of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, as nominated by the Secretaries of the concerned Departments, it said.

The teams would take up simultaneous inspection of mining leases in two phases-- between August 12 and 14 and August 19 and 20, it said.

District and local officials would assist the teams by furnishing necessary records and providing assistance,it said.

A core team comprising a senior District Revenue Officer, a Joint Director of Survey, Joint Director, Geology and Mining and an Additional Chief Environmental Engineer would coordinate inspections of the leases and assist the Revenue Secretary, it said.

The Revenue Secretary would again visit Tuticorin between August 22 and 24 for further enquires as may be required to finalise the report before one month from the date of issuance of G.O. as stipulated, it said.

On Aug 9, government had ordered suspension of sand mining in the district and formed a Special Team headed by Revenue Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi and officials from Environment and Forests, Geology and Mining departments to probe the issue in the backdrop of reports of illegal mining surfacing there.

The government action came days after the transfer of Tuticorin District Collector Ashish Kumar after he cracked down on illegal sand mining in the area.