Days after transferring the district collector of Tuticorin for allegedly taking on influential mineral mining companies,the Tamil Nadu government ordered a probe by a high-level special team into the charges of large scale illicit mining. The revenue secretary will head the special team comprising officials from forest and environment,and geologies and mines departments and has been directed by CM J Jayalalithaa to submit its report in a month. The new Tuticorin collector has been asked to order a freeze on mining activities in all six lease areas of major minerals till the probe is completed. The transport permit also stands suspended till then. The coastal sand of Tuticorin is rich in garnet,ilmenite and rutile. There have been allegations of excessive mining against several lessees,like Vetrivel Minerals,owned by V Vaikundarajan,said to be close to the ruling AIADMK. Mines and stockyards of the firm were raided by two teams on Tuesday,following which Collector Ashish Kumar was transferred,triggering a row.
