The Madras high court on Thursday slammed the state government for permitting illegal mining and directed it to take immediate steps to stop mining operations being carried on by encroachers in Trisoolam village here.
“If the state or the authorities concerned do not take any step to stop such illegal mining, then the court shall have no option but to presume that the concerned persons are also interested in continuation of such illegal activities. Let this order be communicated to the chief secretary and to the secretary, department of industries and department of geology and mining forthwith for taking necessary action,” a division bench of Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam said.
The bench dismissed petitions filed by V.N.P. Gomathi Sankara Narayanan, V.N. Elumalai and S. Krishnakumar, proprietors of Blue Metals companies, challenging the order of the Tambaram tahsildar, directing them to vacate the land in Trisoolam village.
The bench said it was clear that the three petitioners were encroachers and have been carrying on mining operations since 2007 without a valid mining lease.
When a notice under section 6 of the TN Land Encroachment Act was issued, the petitioners filed these petitions. As the petitions were not properly opposed by the state, they continued illegal mining operations.