Farmers’ association (non-political, non-religious, non-communal) has made a representation to the police department flagging “gross violations” in mining lease sanctions and operations by a private quarry unit in Kinathukadavu taluk in Coimbatore district.

P. Kandasamy, State general secretary of the association, said “illegal” mining activity by the lessee V. Dileep in survey fields: 728/2, 729/1, 729/2, and 729/3 of Sokkanur village, had caused massive revenue loss to the government, and must be investigated.

As many as 200 mining quarries in Coimbatore district, Mr. Kandasamy alleged, were indulging in rampant and brazen violations of statutory norms, environmental regulations, and lease conditions.

Corruption in the lease system was deep-rooted, resulting in colossal loss to the state exchequer due to illegal mining and evasion of royalties, and severe hardships for farmers, villagers, and livestock due to environmental degradation and safety hazards.

Illegal mining is carried out to smuggle out mined materials without paying government royalties. Use of heavy explosives cause structural damage to houses in the vicinity, and cause disturbance to residents and livestock. The splinters from the explosives also endanger lives of people, he said.

Illegal mining activity also cause depletion of groundwater, affecting farming activities. Quarries flout norms by way of zero compliance with green belts, and neglect of measures for pollution control and noise/dust mitigation.

Though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had issued an order earlier this month imposing a ₹4.48 crore fine and halting operations, the quarry at Sokkampatty continues to function illegally.

Following an appeal by the quarry, the District Collector reduced the fine to ₹ 1 crore, but did not enforce any other conditions.

The special wing of the police department must step in to conduct a thorough investigation into illegal activities in the quarry as also in other quarries operating illegally in Coimbatore district.

Officials complicit in subverting laws must be prosecuted, and the NGT orders on environmental safeguards must be strictly enforced. Dues owned to the exchequer from illegal mining must be recovered, Mr. Kandasamy emphasised.