Plea to prevent illegal quarrying, take action against erring officials

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday sought response from the State to a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to authorities to prevent illegal quarrying in Sivaganga district.

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete sought the response from the State to the petition filed by S.M.A. Pon Gandhimathinathan of Thoothukudi district. The petitioner also sought a direction to the State to take appropriate action against the erring officials responsible for the death of six workers in a stone quarry in Mallakottai in Sivaganga district. The workers were killed in a rockslide at a stone quarry.

The tragedy occurred only because of the negligence and carelessness of the officials. As per a G.O. issued by the Industries Department directions were issued to District Collectors to prevent illegal quarrying in the State and to form special cells at District levels to review the matter on a monthly basis, he said.

He said the main objective of the G.O was to constitute District and taluk level task forces to curtail the menace of illegal mining, quarrying and transportation of minerals. In the event of illegal mining, the Village Administrative Officer, the Tahsildar, Officer in-charge of the Department of Geology and Mining at the District level and the Police officer in charge of the area should be held responsible for not taking action against the offenders. The District Collector should take departmental action against them and send a report to the government, he said.

However, no action has been taken against the erring officials responsible for the death of the six workers in the stone quarry, the petitioner said and sought a direction to the State to prevent illegal mining/quarrying in Sivaganga district and to take appropriate action against the erring officials responsible for the death of six persons in the stone quarry.