Over 10 cases have been registered against granite quarry operators on Monday.
Following complaints from the respective Village Administrative Officers, the police have registered cases on charges of theft, violation of norms and suppressing evidence, among others.
The district administration took action following former Collector U. Sagayam pointing out a large number of violations in quarrying.
Collector Anshul Mishra took up inspection of 175 quarries by forming 18 teams. The inspection, which commenced four days ago, is likely to go on for a couple of more days in Melur, Keelavalavu and surrounding areas. So far, 96 quarries had been inspected, the Collector told The Hindu on Monday.
The inspecting teams have so far identified that the quarry operators had allegedly violated norms through illegal mining, destroying water bodies, encroachment of poromboke land and mining beyond safety distance. Interestingly, 35 quarries, for which licences were issued, had not violated the normsand 29 licence holders were yet to start mining. Two VAOs were placed under suspension for dereliction of duty on Sunday.
“I strongly suspect the involvement of some more officials,” Mr. Mishra said. The next course of action would be to assess the volume of granite allegedly stolen by the operators.
Cases have been registered against PRP Exports, Olympus Granites, Sindhu Granites among others in Othakadai, Keelavalavu and Melur police stations.
