Illegal quarrying: HC orders issue of notice to officials

The Madras High Court bench here today ordered issue of notices to officials of Tamil Nadu government to file counter on a petition seeking legal action against illegal quarry operations in two villages of Virudhunagar district, which are very near to a wild life sanctuary.
A division bench, comprising Justice S Tamilvanan and Justice V S Ravi, ordered issue of notices to the officials of Industries and Mines Department seeking their counter within two weeks.
S Murugesan, a social worker, had submitted that one M P Rammohan Raja was granted lease by the Virudhunagar District Collector in 1989 for quarrying for three years.

Renewal of the lease was rejected after the officials came to know that the site had export-quality granite blocks which were of more value. The wild life warden had also objected to the quarrying activity in the middle of the forest.
Meanwhile, Raja got a High Court order for removing only the stones quarried by him already. But under the pretext of removing the granite blocks, he started quarrying illegally. Inspite of rejection of permission for quarrying and also the High Court order not to quarry, he was quarrying, the petitioner submitted.
Raja did not have the permit to store the blocks also, the petitioner submitted.

Murugesan contended that he had sent a representation to officials concerned seeking to ban quarrying near the wildlife sanctuary and wanted to initiate action against Raja for illegal quarrying.