Chennai: The state government has informed the Madras high court that it has decided to request the Union government to address the Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Application and Geo Informatics (BISAGI), Ahmedabad, to extend the “Mining Surveillance System” to all the areas where beach sand mining is prevalent in the districts of Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.
State Industries secretary Vikram Kapur, IAS, stated this in his report filed before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh and Justice R. Mahadevan. The bench posted to March 27, further hearing of a batch of petitions, including the suo motu PIL.
During the last hearing, advocate V. Suresh, amicus curie suggested a direction from the court to the ministry of mines, government of India and ministry of electronics and information technology, Government of India and BISAGI to extend the MSS to all the areas where beach sand mining was prevalent in the three districts and to file monthly reports on the ‘triggers’ and action taken before this court.
State industries secretary filed a report stating that in pursuance of the order of the court, a meeting was held on February 17 and discussions were held with regard to extending MSS, formation of special squads patrolling for curbing illegal mining and transportation of beach sand minerals in coastal districts, forming of special team headed by a secretary level officer with the assistance of Central and state government officials to assess the stock of the beach sand minerals stored in various places. 62 leases have already been uploaded by the Indian Bureau of Mines through BISAGI and the remaining 6 leases will be uploaded within a month, he added.
He said Anna University, Chennai, has also been requested to explore the possibilities of getting the latest satellite imageries for monitoring mining activities of beach sand minerals in coastal districts. The department also requested the Customs and Excise authorities to ensure that the beach sand minerals were brought to their area for export only with valid documents as per Rule 3 of the TN Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage of Minerals and Mineral Dealers Rules. It was further decided to send a proposal to the Union government for making necessary amendments in the EXIM policy insisting on valid documents, i.e., transport permit/transit pass issued by the state authorities concerned before allowing export of any minerals, he added.
