Illegal quarries earning Rs 15 cr each, alleges panel; seek action

TIRUCHY: A fact-finding team that visited Karur to probe the murder of a farmer who opposed illegal stone quarrying said it would submit a report to the Chief Minister to initiate action against the quarries and also recommend forming a special committee to streamlining their functioning across the State.

The eight-member team led by Manapparai MLA P Abdul Samad visited the stone quarry and interacted with the family members of Jegannathan, who died after being run over a lorry belonging to the stone quarry owner, and also eyewitnesses.

Samad told the media that Jegannathan was targeted by the stone quarry owners twice earlier for complaining against illegal mining. They succeeded the third time, said the MLA, adding that the committee recommended a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and employment for one of the family members.

There are several illegal stone quarries in Karur, Samad said, adding that more than 200 of them had dug beyond 350 feet depth. “They dug deeper than permitted. There is a contradiction between the officials’ statement and what we learnt during the field visit. We have recorded everything,” he said.

Each stone quarry was operating at least 100 lorries and earns at least Rs 15 crore per month by looting natural resources, he alleged. The committee’s report against illegal stone quarries in the district would be submitted to Chief Minister MK Stalin, along with a recommendation to form an expert committee to inspect quarries and release a White Paper on the findings, he added.

The team also expressed concerns that there was no safety for activists in the district and demanded that the government should ensure their safety.

Each quarry was operating at least 100 lorries and earns at least Rs 15 crore per month by looting natural resources, said committee chairman