Jaya holds review meeting on 'granite quarries'

Jayalaithaa chaired the meeting in connection with the granite quarries, with her senior cabinet colleagues including Finance Minister O Panneerselvam, Electricity Minister Natham R Viswanthan and Industries Minister P Thangamani here, a government release said without divulging details.

Among the officials present at the meeting were Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi and DGP K Ramanujam.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of a report by former Madurai Collector U Sahayam stating illegal quarrying in the district had caused a loss of over Rs 16,000 crore to the state exchequer following which a crackdown was initiated, with his successor Anshul Mishra overseeing the action.

Cases had been registered against several owners of granite firms, including DMK leader and Union Fertiliser Minister M K Alagiri's son Durai Dayanidhi and his partner, for alleged illegal quarrying of granite at government land.

A joint team of revenue and police officials yesterday raided and sealed P R P Granites Exports, a leading company involved in the blue metal business in Melur near Madurai.

Demands have been made that government nationalise granite quarrying, on the lines of sand mining.