Panel wants Sagayam to probe mining scams

Mukilan, member of the support committee, in a press meet in Chennai, said the state government should publish the Sagayam report in the government website to show that the administration means business.

The support committee has members from activists’ groups as well students’ associations. Estimating the loss to the exchequer during the last 30 years because of illegal mining in the state at around Rs 30 lakh crore, Mukilan and his team pressed for a probe into the mineral/ beach sand mining in southern districts and river sand mining besides illegal granite mining in Krishnagiri.

“All these years, people in power from all parties had been helping the mining mafias to plunder natural resources. It is time the government woke up and acted on Sagayam report. The government should also ensure protection for over 425 persons who had given statements during the probe conducted by Sagayam,” he added.

The committee pointed out that V V Minerals run by S. Vaikundarajan and its sister concerns engaged in beach sand mining in Thoothukudi, Nagercoil and Tirunelveli had managed to corner 64 of the total 78 quarries. The 63 quarries put together had around 250 hectares while the firm had managed to add another 300 hectares when it got the 64th permission in 2011.

According to the committee, illegal sand mining from 33 rivers was also one of the reasons for floods in the state. If Madurai had 175 granite quarries, Krishnagiri had 200 legal quarries and nearly 300 illegal granite quarries. Apart from many others, sitting CPI MLA Thali Ramachandran is also a beneficiary of illegal mining in Krishnagiri, a committee member alleged.