The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday sought response from the State to a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the government to take over the quarrying operations and appoint officials to monitor the operations so as to make minerals available to the public at appropriate prices and prevent smuggling of minerals from Tamil Nadu to other States.

Hearing the petition filed by O. Homerlal of Kanniyakumari district, a Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel ordered issue of the notice. The petitioner said mining operations were carried out on poramboke and patta lands. Normally, permits would be granted for mining operations on patta lands based on the application made by the owner of the property. With regard to poramboke lands, lease would be granted.

As the lease was granted to strong and financially influential private individuals, none of the conditions imposed by the authority at the time of granting the lease was complied with. There were violations in quarrying operations and the officials were silent spectators, he said.

Several quarries had been inspected and penalties levied for illegal mining. However, such penalties were only an eye wash, he said.

He pointed out that Kanniyakumari district was one of the worst affected areas. Most of the minerals quarried in the district were transported to Kerala. Huge tipper lorries were used by the contractors to transport minerals. The quarry owners were interested in supplying the minerals to the neighbouring State as it was more lucrative.

The public found it difficult to purchase minerals due to the escalation in prices. It would have a direct bearing on the cost of construction. If the government took over quarrying operations, the government could provide sufficient job opportunities and supply minerals directly to the parties. Nature could be preserved and the government would have a substantial revenue, he said. The court posted the matter for hearing to October 6.

Published - August 13, 2026 08:39 pm IST