30 beach mineral godowns sealed

4,55,245 tonnes of beach minerals found

As many as 30 godowns containing beach sand have been sealed in Thoothukudi district, according to Collector M. Ravikumar.

15 locations searched

Addressing journalists here on Monday, he said that Taluk-level officials had conducted searches at 15 locations as part of a crackdown that began last week.

Vast quantities of minerals mined from beach sand such as garnet, ilmenite, zircon and rutile were found stocked in these godowns.

During the search operation, the squads found a total of 4,55,245 tonnes of beach minerals and 3,12,314 tonnes of raw beach sand.

The searches were initiated by the district administration in the wake of the suspension of Assistant Director of Mines Krishnamohan over allegations that he had produced fake documents to facilitate the illegal export of beach minerals belonging to V.V. Mineral, a leading firm.

The officials would now probe whether the mined beach minerals stocked in the sealed godowns were legally sourced, the Collector said.

Beach sand mining was banned by the State government in August 2013.