HC directs VV Minerals to provide details to DAE

The Madras High Court today directed VV Minerals and its Chairman and Managing Director Vaikundarajan to provide to the Department of Atomic Energy information on estimated reserves of monazite and final disposal of tailings for each mine from 2007 till date, among other things.
When the suo motu PIL relating to alleged illegal mining of Beach Sand Minerals in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari district came up, the court directed the Advocate General to file the report, stated to have been prepared but not submitted by Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Revenue secretary and head of the special team constituted by the Industries department, in respect of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts.

The court also impleaded Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, Thoothukudi Port, Regional Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, Chennai and Chairman, VO Chidambaranar Port Trust, Tuticorin, in the case.
On the matter of prohibiting export of garnet, ilmenite and other beach sand material originating from Tamil Nadu through Tuticorin, Chennai and other ports, the court said: "We are of the view that an opportunity must be given to VV Minerals and its Chairman and Managing Director Vaikundarajan or any other affected before we pass the necessary direction in this behalf."
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan posted the matter for further hearing on January 11.