Report on mining unveils corruption

  • | Monday | 23rd July, 2018

Nine leases were issued in violation of special mining rules for monazite, mining of which require special permissions from the Centre.In several cases, leases were not obtained for intervening lands. CHENNAI: A special team headed by state revenue secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi has submitted a damning report on the corrupt practices and flouting of rules by companies that had obtained mining leases in the state. In a few other areas, TNPCB had even permitted mining in violations of CRZ guidelines among others.The special team suggested tougher process and regulations through inspections, to ensure proper functioning of the industry. Further, illegal mining had been carried out in government poromboke and HR&CE lands. Leases have been split up and applied separately to avoid getting clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forest Department.

CHENNAI: A special team headed by state revenue secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi has submitted a damning report on the corrupt practices and flouting of rules by companies that had obtained mining leases in the state. Gross undermining of sale price of minerals and sand mined had resulted in huge revenue loss to the government in the form of royalties.Out of the 52 leases, issued to companies like Beach Minerals Sands Company Pvt Ltd, Trans World Garnet Pvt Ltd and V V Minerals, besides couple of individuals in Tirunelveli district, illegal mining was noticed in 38 lease sites. Illegal mining prevailed over an extent of 167.2 hectares or 412.99 acres to the quantity of 90.30 lakh tonnes of raw sand.One of the key issues was low royalty fixation, which led to huge losses to the state exchequer by underpricing of minerals like garnet. Even though 70% of the 1,061 acres of land leased out were government poromboke lands, the state government got just 9 crore on an average per annum as royalty, the report said.In most cases, the transport permits did not tally with the quantity mined and transported. Hence, the special team said there is an urgent need of the transport permits to be given only after a thorough inspection of the site and tallying of the permits given in the previous year, as against the actual quantity mined.On the issue of prescribed minerals like illemenite, rutile and monazite , several lease holders did not even keep records for minerals mined. Nine leases were issued in violation of special mining rules for monazite, mining of which require special permissions from the Centre.In several cases, leases were not obtained for intervening lands. Leases have been split up and applied separately to avoid getting clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forest Department. Further, illegal mining had been carried out in government poromboke and HR&CE lands. Sand dunes have been mined and removed in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), thereby indicating official collusion with lease holders, the report said.In 29 out of 32 leases, no consent order was obtained from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), even though it was essential before commencing operations. In a few other areas, TNPCB had even permitted mining in violations of CRZ guidelines among others.The special team suggested tougher process and regulations through inspections, to ensure proper functioning of the industry. Besides Bedi, the special core team comprised of district revenue officers, two joint directors of Survey and a joint director of Geology & Mining and an additional chief environmental engineer and it coordinated the inspection in all 52 leases in Tirunelveli district.

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