Illegal Mining Rampant in Tamil Nadu Despite Court Crackdowns

The operations of illegal mining in Tamil Nadu continue almost unhindered for want of stringent government interventions, bringing to light a deeply rooted nexus between government officials and the mining mafia. Several public interest litigations (PIL) across districts, such as Dindigul, Coimbatore, and Tiruppur, have laid bare the failure of the State bureaucracy to enforce court orders and rein in the unchecked mining of river sand, red soil, gravel, and beach sand.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has repeatedly reprimanded District Collectors and mining officials, ordering Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to investigate violations. In Dindigul, illegal river sand quarries sealed by court orders were found operating via rear entry points. When officials claimed otherwise in court, the bench—Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete called the statement false and summoned the Collector to explain.

In another instance, villagers in Vinnamangalam (Tiruppur) opposed new quarry permissions, fearing damage to public infrastructure. The hearing ended in chaos when activist Mughilan was manhandled by police.

A recent PIL filed by Dindigul resident Jayapal alleged that no official permission existed for sand mining, yet daily operations continued in Palani, Ottanchatram, Natham, and Vedasandur. He cited falling groundwater levels and massive revenue loss and sought criminal action against complicit officials.

In Coimbatore, a special revenue squad uncovered illegal red soil mining on both private and government lands. A single raid in Tiruppur’s Kodangipalayam resulted in a ₹10.2 crore fine. Moreover, activists have reason to believe that fines alone do not act as a deterrent; there is no prosecution under criminal law.

Further aggravating the concerns, the Tamil Nadu government recently amended its Minor Mineral Concession Rules to extend quarry lease periods to 30 years and to allow for the amalgamation of adjoining leases. Activists warn that this will further aggravate the crisis by creating an environment for large-scale exploitation with long-term legal cover.

Following mounting pressure, including Frontline’s exposé on May 15, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin removed Minister Durai Murugan from the Mines and Minerals portfolio and replaced top mining officials. But for Tamil Nadu’s courts, villagers, and activists, the war against illegal mining remains far from over.