C MANIVEL Vs. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner filed this Writ Petition in pro bono publico to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take immediate action to discontinue the mining operations undertaken by the fifth respondent after the expiry of the lease period.

(2.) The petitioner is stated to be a social activist and is a resident of Karur District. According to the petitioner, the fifth respondent obtained the mining lease as per the order in G.O.Ms.No.25, Industries (M2) Department, dated 10 January, 1989. The fifth respondent has been taking limestone at Thevarmalai Village and Melapaguthi Village. The lease was in respect of an area of 411.51 Acres. The lease was granted for a period of 20 years. Though the mining lease expired in the year 2009, the fifth respondent continued to quarry limestone. The petitioner submitted series of representations requesting the respondents 1 to 4 to take immediate action to close down the limestone quarry.

(3.) The petitioner, in his representation to the District Collector, contended that the fifth respondent indulged in large scale mining and heavy vehicles were used for transportation of the minerals. The illegal act of the fifth respondent adversely affected the local ecological condition. There was a dip in the water level in the village consequent to the illegal mining using high power explosives. There was no response to the representation submitted by the petitioner, resulting in filing this Writ Petition.