The Madras High Court on Tuesday extended till January 20 an interim order allowing use of excavators at sand quarrying sites in rivers.
On January 10, a Madurai Bench consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and S. Nagamuthu at its sitting here had earlier permitted the Industry Secretary or those delegated by him to grant permission for using excavators, not more than two, in each of the quarrying sites.
The Bench passed the order on a petition by the government which sought to modify the court's order of December 2 last year relating to constitution of a State-level monitoring committee and using machinery under the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules (TNMMCR.) It had posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday.
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When the matter came up, Advocate-General P.S. Raman said out of the nearly 180 sand quarries in the State, the Industries Department had given permission to use a maximum of two excavators only in about 60 quarries. In compliance with the order, the authorities were exercising restraint in permitting the use of excavators.
After hearing the AG and R. Nallakannu, one of the earlier writ petitioners, the Bench adjourned the matter to January 20 so that notice could be served on all the respondents. Till then, the interim order would be in force.