The Coimbatore District administration has stated that appropriate instructions have been issued to set up a committee comprising all departments, at all the state border checkposts located in Coimbatore district for conducting an audit of the smuggling of minerals from the mineral reserve godowns to the State of Kerala.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore District administration has stated that steps have been taken to prevent smuggling of mineral resources in the district.
"In view of complaints of smuggling of minerals from Coimbatore district to Kerala without proper labels and the case filed in the High Court in this regard, appropriate instructions have been issued to conduct an audit of all state border checkposts located in Coimbatore district by constituting a committee comprising all departments," read the statement issued by the Coimbatore District administration.
Coimbatore District Collector, Kranthi Kumar Pati said in the statement, "Transport passes in the size of 4 units (12 km) and 6 units (18 km) are being issued only after payment of seniorage amount, mineral trust fund and green tax by the Department of Geology and Mines for transportation of minerals to Kerala from the approved mineral reserve godowns.
Further, if the details of the day and time are missing in the traffic track or if errors have been corrected or minerals are transported in excess of the permissible limits, fines have been imposed by the Mineral Resources Department, Revenue Department and Regional Transport Officers and appropriate further action is being taken."
"During the period from February 24 to March 2023, 1,254 vehicles have been inspected at checkposts in Coimbatore district. From July 2022 to March 2023, 54 vehicles were seized by the Mineral Resources Department and revenue officials, for smuggling of clay without proper permission.
As many as 94 vehicles carrying minerals in large quantities have been fined by Regional Transport Officers. Further, the Revenue Divisional Officers and Tahsildars have been instructed at the district-level Special Task Force meeting to monitor the non-functioning of the quarries where the lease period has expired.
Thus far, more than 15 quarries in Coimbatore district have been surveyed by the total station and violations have been detected in two quarries and recommended for appropriate penal action. In the remaining quarries, the work of detecting violations is being carried out.
Cases where quarry leases are granted, all the tenants have been instructed that the field permission is sought for, should be inspected by a Government-recognized agency as per the DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) and each boundary pillar should be planted," explained the District Collector.
"In view of complaints of smuggling of minerals from Coimbatore district to Kerala without proper labels and the case filed in the High Court in this regard, appropriate instructions have been issued to conduct an audit of all state border checkposts located in Coimbatore district by constituting a committee comprising all departments," read the statement issued by the Coimbatore District administration.
Coimbatore District Collector, Kranthi Kumar Pati said in the statement, "Transport passes in the size of 4 units (12 km) and 6 units (18 km) are being issued only after payment of seniorage amount, mineral trust fund and green tax by the Department of Geology and Mines for transportation of minerals to Kerala from the approved mineral reserve godowns.
Further, if the details of the day and time are missing in the traffic track or if errors have been corrected or minerals are transported in excess of the permissible limits, fines have been imposed by the Mineral Resources Department, Revenue Department and Regional Transport Officers and appropriate further action is being taken."
"During the period from February 24 to March 2023, 1,254 vehicles have been inspected at checkposts in Coimbatore district. From July 2022 to March 2023, 54 vehicles were seized by the Mineral Resources Department and revenue officials, for smuggling of clay without proper permission.
As many as 94 vehicles carrying minerals in large quantities have been fined by Regional Transport Officers. Further, the Revenue Divisional Officers and Tahsildars have been instructed at the district-level Special Task Force meeting to monitor the non-functioning of the quarries where the lease period has expired.
Thus far, more than 15 quarries in Coimbatore district have been surveyed by the total station and violations have been detected in two quarries and recommended for appropriate penal action. In the remaining quarries, the work of detecting violations is being carried out.
Cases where quarry leases are granted, all the tenants have been instructed that the field permission is sought for, should be inspected by a Government-recognized agency as per the DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) and each boundary pillar should be planted," explained the District Collector.