Summary:
The government accepted the judgment without taking it on appeal and issued a G.O this year, granting mining lease to the two firms. The shift in stand could bring to end a five-year-old ban imposed by the government on beach sand mining in 2013, when it formed a team to probe allegations of large-scale illicit mining of beach sand minerals by the lessees in the five districts. The letter reads: “It is informed that the cases, which are related to illegal mining of beach sand minerals in the State of Tamil Nadu from the existing mining leases and stoppage of mining operations, are still pending before the honourable High Court of Madras. The lease was granted based on a court order passed on March 15, 2017. One of the reasons cited for the refusal was that “all beach sand mining activities have been banned in the State of Tamil Nadu” as per G.Os issued on August 8, 2013 and September 17, 2013..