Chennai: An advocate has approached the Madras high court to direct authorities to stall the movement of the heavy vehicle carrying a single large rock from Korakottai village, Vandavasi taluk, Tiruvannamalai district to Bangalore by the Kothandaramaswamy Charitable Trust, Bangalore.
A division bench comprising Justices M.Sathyanarayanan and P.Rajamanickam before whom the PIL filed by advocate P.Rathinam came up for hearing on Friday, directed the secretary and joint director of mines and minerals department to file a status report as to the development regarding permission accorded to transport the quarried rock to Bangalore by the trust.
The bench posted to February 14, further hearing of the case.
According to petitioner, from December 25, 2018, he was watching and hearing the media with regard to the unlawful activities of a private trust in Karnataka has managed to defraud the government of Tamil Nadu and Government of India to get permission for cutting rock in Chettikulam, Vandavasi Taluk, Tiruvannamalai district. He understand from the media that the trust wants to create a deity in a single large stone. It appears that the said trust made efforts throughout India to identify a rock to cut such stone. But the trust could not get such a rock. It appears that the government of India had identified the rock through satellite in Chettikulam, he added.
He said it was shocking to know that the huge vehicle with about 160 tyres supported by two Volvo jeeps to run it on the public road was creating very many problems. He and his friends visited the place and the vehicle. He also made enquiries with the local area people, who apprehending problem, refused to disclose their names. But narrated the problems they were facing including demolition of a portion of their houses paving the way for the vehicle to move. They were paid only a portion of compensation. He and his friends contacted the local MLA and MP but in vain. They also gave representation to the authorities. But there was no response, Rathinam added.
