Madras HC asks TN Govt to stop quarrying in hill station

Chennai, April 24: Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Government to stop all illegal quarrying and mining activities in the hill station of Udhagamandalam.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Ms Justice Prabha Sridevan directed the Regional Transport Officer,Ooty to prevent all JCPs,tipper lorries and heavy vehicles from transporting rocks,blue metal or any other mining materials without valid permit.
Such JCPs,tipper lorries and heavy vehicles used in illegal transportation of such material as also explosives used for blasting operations should be seized.
The court gave the direction following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate and Managing Trustee of 'In Defence of Environment and Animals, Mr G Rajendran.
In his PIL, Mr Rajendran submitted illegal mining and quarrying in the hill station was going on in several places.
Mining and other non-forestry activities would definitely affect the environment and the ecology. These unscrupulous persons were exploiting the natural resources for minting money thereby cheating the future generation.
Such mining operations in hill areas should not be allowed and they should be stopped immediately.
The petitioner further submitted the District Collector,Ooty issued a notice in February 24, 1999 to all Municipal Commissioners, Town Panjayat EOs and Panchayat Presidents to ban the use of heavy vehicles for levelling the land. But subordinate officials did not follow the order of the collector, he contended.
The Bench also directed the District Forest Officer, Deputy Director,Geology and Mines, to inspect the area in question and make a report to the Court about illegal quarying and mining activities in the entire hill area and the extent of damage caused by such illegal activities in terms of area and cubic meter within a period of four weeks from today and posted the case to June 11 for further hearing.
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008
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