Greeva Garg –
The Madras High Court ordered a crackdown on Illegal Quarrying and directed the State Government of Tamil Nadu to attend the illicit act of plundering of the mineral wealth of the State by unscrupulous elements who indulge in all sorts of illegal activities.
The Bench comprises Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy ordered for the appropriate actions to be initiated by the State Government to ensure that the quarrying activities are undertaken only in accordance with the terms of the licenses granted and that the licenses adhere to the limited areas earmarked for them.
The Judges requested Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram to ensure that a comprehensive status report should be filed by a senior official in the Government when the matter appears before the Court on June 29.
The Court passed the Interim orders on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking immediate action for stopping illegal quarrying undertaken at several places.
Taking note of the complaint, the Judges ordered that the perpetrators of the crime against its nature must be dealt with appropriately.
“There are others who are indulging in quarrying without obtaining any license or permission. In several cases, it is not only the State’s assets which are being looted buy an environmental hazard is also being presented,” the Court stated.