THOOTHUKUDI | May 15, 2017:

Three special teams have started inspecting godowns where beach minerals have been stocked.

Following a direction from the Madras High Court, special teams, led by Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation Chairman and Managing Director Satyabrata Sahoo, recently inspected the godowns in Thoothukudi where beach minerals had been stocked.

Mr. Sahoo had then said that the inspection would continue in Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts also since mining had been done in the coastal areas of these districts.

After holding discussion with Tirunelveli Collector M. Karunakaran and other top officials recently, Mr. Sahoo formed three special teams and instructed them to continue inspections in the godowns. The inspections resumed on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Thoothukudi Collector M. Ravikumar said three teams, led by the Thoothukudi Sub-Collector and the Kovilpatti and Tiruchendur Tahsildars had been formed to inspect 31 warehouses in Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur and Vilathikulam, where the beach minerals had been stocked.

“The teams will submit their reports by May 30. If necessity arises, Mr. Sahoo will come again for inspection,” Mr. Ravikumar said.

After a few companies involved in beach sand mineral export have been accused of involved in illegal mining despite the ban that came into effect in 2013, the inspections continue.

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)