Uncontrolled mineral looting in Coimbatore Thadagam area: Trucks and JCB confiscated

Coimbatore: Social activists have lamented the uncontrolled increase in mineral plunder in the last few days in the Thadagam area of Coimbatore district.


Coimbatore: Social activists have lamented the uncontrolled increase in mineral plunder in the last few days in the Thadagam area of Coimbatore district.

In this context, there was an incident where the customs officials have recently seized vehicles used for smuggling and registered a case. However, the public in the area feel that there would be no end to the atrocities committed by some brick kilns there that are not bound by any order.

In Coimbatore district, areas adjoining the Western Ghats such as Chinna Thadagam, Nanjundapuram, Pannimadai, Somayampalayam, 24 Veerapandi have brick kilns operating on HACA and poramboke lands without permission.

Authorities recovered 4 tipper trucks and a JCB vehicle that were smuggling red soil across Thadagam Road last week. Following this, the truck drivers have been arrested. Then, three days later, Maheswari from Chinna Thadagam complained that red soil was extracted from her land. An investigation revealed that the mineral resources were taken by the looters without the consent of the owner of the land. Later, a tipper truck and a JCB vehicle were confiscated and a charge sheet was filed.



Following this, on 17.10.2020, Assistant Geologist Prasad, Private Revenue Officer (Minerals), Assistant Director, Geology and Mining, Coimbatore District, seized a tipper lorry (TN-38CR-8209) tipper that was illegally transporting red soil during an inspection. In addition, the inspection revealed that the red soild had been extracted without a permit issued by the Department of Geology and Mining.

In this regard, based on an enquiry with the driver of the vehicle, Parandhaman, cases were registered under had to obtain a permit from the government to take the minerals under Section 4 (1) and 4 (1-A) of the Minerals Improvement and Regulation Act 1957. The vehicle used for smuggling of the mineral has been seized.

According to social activists, looting mineral resources in Thadagam is constantly on the up. They fear that the Western Ghats will be plundered and sold. They demanded that the district administration take strict action to stop these mineral looters immediately.

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