Karur Collector Imposes Rs 44.65 Crore Fine on Stone Quarries for Environmental Violations
Karur, Tamil Nadu – In a significant move to maintain environmental regulations, Karur Collector Prabhu Shankar has imposed a fine of Rs 44.65 crore on stone quarries owned by 12 individuals. Among the fined quarries is one owned by Srirangam DMK MLA Palaniandhi. These quarries were found to be operating without proper permission and in violation of environmental rules.
The investigation was carried out by a team led by the Tahsildar, Divisional Officers, Assistant Director of Land Survey Department, and other officials. The team inspected a total of 42 stone quarries under lease and identified violations in 12 of them. As a result, a fine of Rs 44.65 crore has been imposed on the 12 individuals responsible for these quarries. The remaining 30 quarries are also set to face penalties for their violations.
It all began when a concerned citizen from Chennai, Sushmita, filed a case in the South Zone Green Tribunal, highlighting the illegal operations of stone quarries in Karur district and their adverse impact on the environment. The tribunal subsequently ordered the state environmental impact assessment authority, pollution control board, district administration, and mineral resources department to take action against these quarries and impose environmental compensation.
Following the tribunal’s orders, an investigation was conducted, leading to the imposition of the fine on the 12 quarries, including the one owned by MLA Palaniandhi. Palaniandhi’s quarry in the Sivayam area near Krishnarayapuram alone incurred a penalty of Rs 23.54 crore.
This is not the first instance of imposing fines on stone quarries for environmental violations in Tamil Nadu. In May last year, the Krishnagiri Collector announced a fine of Rs 321.81 crore on 21 granite and stone quarries in the district for operating illegally over the past two years.
These measures reflect the government’s commitment to preserving the environment and penalizing those responsible for its degradation. The fines levied on the stone quarries are expected to act as a deterrent for future violations and promote responsible mining practices in the region.