Now,TN collector’s transfer sparks row

On Tuesday,Ashish Kumar ordered raids at VV Minerals for allegedly mining way beyond the limit permitted under the lease agreement. The sand on the district’s shore is mineral-rich,containing precious ones like garnet,ilmenite,rutile and monazite,most of which is exported. The collector said he had received many complaints of irregularities against the company,necessitating an inquiry. Two teams comprising officials from revenue and mines departments,pollution control board and police,headed by assistant collector G S Sameeran raided the sand quarries and company stockyard at Vembar and Vaippar .

The mining and export company is owned by V Vaikundarajan,a rich,influential but low-profile person said to be close to the ruling party. Hence,the raids at the company mines created a flutter in the district,and the rumour about an imminent transfer was in the air right from noon. It was confirmed by late evening — Kumar was posted as a deputy secretary in the social welfare and nutritious meal programme department in Chennai after a two-year stint at Tuticorin.

On Wednesday,Kumar addressed a press meet,describing the extent of illegality revealed by the raids. The company had extracted sand over and above the approved limit,he said,adding that the village administrative officer of Vaippar has been directed to file a police complaint against the company. He said there were at least eight quarries in the district functioning without permission,including ones owned by VV Minerals,besides 27 others in neighbouring Thirunelveli district.

Opposition parties DMDK and PMK came to his support on Wednesday,criticising the government for the transfer and demanding his reinstatement. However,Kumar himself said there was nothing unusual about his transfer,which he said was dictated by the administrative exigencies.