A district-level meeting of the ‘Kanimavala Muraikedu Sagayam Aaivukuzhu Aadharavu Iyakkam,’ a State-level forum to assist the probe by the High-Court-appointed U. Sagayam panel, was held here on Saturday.
As many as 150 residents, including activists, environmentalists, farmers, lawyers, engineers and other professionals, participated in the meeting. “We have asked people to come forward to identify any illegal quarrying of minerals in their villages or other areas and asses its environmental impact. Public can give us the complaints which will be forwarded to the Sagayam panel,” said R.S. Mugilan, coordinator of the forum.
“By ensuring anonymity of complainants, we hope to act as a link between the public and the panel appointed to probe into irregularities in mining,” he added. A 20-member coordinating committee was also formed at the meeting.
The forum, by a resolution, condemned the State government for attempting to limit the scope of the Sagayam panel to Madurai district. “The State government is trying to shield people involved in illegal quarrying and we appeal to it not to protect them,” Mr. Mugilan said.
