Chennai, 23 February (H.S.): The Tamil Nadu government has initiated recovery proceedings against five beach sand mining companies, ordering them to pay a whopping Rs 2,002.7 crore towards royalties and cost of minerals. This move comes after the companies allegedly mined and exported beach sand minerals illegally from the Thoothukudi port between January 2014 and December 2016.
The five companies in question are VV Minerals, Tvl Industrial Mineral Company, Transworld Garnet India Pvt Ltd, Beach Minerals Sands Company, and Indian Ocean Garnet Sands Company. VV Minerals has been ordered to pay the largest share, at Rs 913.03 crore.
In the order issued to VV Minerals, the Thoothukudi collector said they reserve the right to initiate recovery proceedings against the firms for illegal export of beach sand minerals during the same period through ports other than Thoothukudi as well.
The three collectors had, in January 2024, issued show cause notices to all the miners for recovery of this sum based on reports submitted by the amicus curiae and a special committee headed by senior IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi and data provided by the assistant commissioner of Customs, Thoothukudi on the quantum of Beach Sand Minerals exported and sale value realised by private companies.
These demand orders are part of the government's efforts to recover Rs 5,832 crore from the firms, which allegedly mined excess beach sand minerals like Garnet, Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Sillimanite, and Leucoxene from 2002 to 2016. The Madras High Court had earlier ordered a CBI probe into the case.
The recovery proceedings have been initiated under Section 21(5) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The Thoothukudi collector has reserved the right to initiate further recovery proceedings against the firms for illegal export of beach sand minerals through other ports.
This crackdown on illegal beach sand mining is a significant step towards holding accountable those who flout environmental and mining regulations. The Tamil Nadu government's efforts to recover the dues from these companies will likely serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar illegal activities.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary