The Sagayam Committee appointed by the Madras High Court to probe the illegal granite mining in Madurai district on Wednesday got down to business with an interaction with officials of various Government departments.
U. Sagayam, the former Madurai Collector, who arrived here in the afternoon, held a meeting with officials of the Departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Public Works, Revenue and Mines.
Official sources said that the panel was keen to ascertain the extent of area and the volume of granite permitted for quarrying and the actual area and volume of granite quarried. Mr. Sagayam enquired with the officials about encroachment of Government poromboke land, cremation yards and ‘panchami’ land in the process of illegal quarrying.
He also learnt from the officials about the impact of illegal quarrying on the livelihood of the residents of various villages in terms of encroachment and damage caused to residential areas, water bodies and cattle grazing land.
The panel, it is learnt, sought details on land grabbing complaints against the granite quarry operators.
Probe duration
Sources close to Mr. Sagayam said that the gravity of illegal mining and the magnitude of its impact would decide the panel’s duration of investigation.
Meanwhile, the district administration has provided a team of 11 officials to assist the panel. Among them are two Assistant Directors (Mines) T. Muruganantham (Namakkal) and S. Sudharsanam (Chennai), Assistant Geologists (Mines) R. Perumal Raja (Tiruvallur) and K. Ramesh (Pudukottai), Retired Deputy Collector, K. Sridharan (Sivaganga), two retired Huzur Sirasdars, A. Arunachalam and V. Meenakshi Sundaram.
Besides, two assistants, a steno-cum-typist and a computer operator have been provided to him.
Mr. Sagayam, who is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Science City at Chennai, has brought with him two senior scientists, J. Devasenapathy and Hema, to assist him.
Sources said that Mr. Sagayam was yet to decide on using the team members provided by the district Collector.
Petitions from public
The panel will receive petitions on granite quarrying from members of the public at the office located in the Old Ramanathapuram Collectorate from Thursday, an official said.
