A Statewide forum, “Irregularities in Mineral Resources-Sagayam Probe Panel Supporters Movement” has been formed to help the High Court-appointed probe by former Madurai Collector, U. Sagayam, to unearth multi-crore mining scam.
“Several fora already working on environmental issues, anti-corruption and farmers, people’s and political bodies have come together to collect evidence on irregularities in quarrying of granite, sand and beach sand among other minerals,” said its coordinator, R.S. Mugilan. He is also the coordinator of Tamil Nadu Environmental Protection Movement, Erode.
The objective of the movement, with a committee of 18 persons, will be to identify quarrying of minerals on legally-permitted and not permitted sites, find out its impact on environment, nature, water bodies, agriculture, loss of lives due social problems that stemmed out of the illegal quarrying.
Stating that many people might not come forward to submit their evidence against illegal quarry operators, Mr. Mugilan said, “We will act as bridge between the panel and such people in bringing out the facts.”
The movement will press the Sagayam panel to conduct public hearings in each district to get more information on the impact of illegal quarrying.
One of the members of the movement, P. Somasundaram of Madurai hoped that every issue raised with the Sagayam panel will benefit the victims of illegal quarrying to a great extent.
Poor farmers who had lost their agricultural lands to the quarry operators in Madurai had lodged hundreds of complaints to the district administration and the police. But, so far cases related only to government land have been booked and not in the cases related to land belonging to individuals, he said.
“Sagayam panel is going to submit its report to the High Court and not to the State government. The court might even order a CBI enquiry into the irregularities, which is estimated to run into several lakh crores. Thus, truth will come out and the victims will be duly compensated,” he said.
The movement believes that besides bringing the huge corruption to light, the probe will help conserve water bodies and historical monuments.
Published - November 05, 2014 02:50 am IST
