TN govt to frame new large mineral mining policy soon: Jaya

, Oct 29: The

Government would evolve a new policy governing large mineral quarries after the formation of a high-level committee, set up to go into alleged illegal mining, Chief Minister

informed the state assembly today.

"I am determined that such natural resources of significance are not exploited (by mining them) beyond government allowed levels," she said intervening during debate on the supplementary estimates for 2013-14.

Noting that a country's economic growth depended on the proper use of natural resources like minerals, water and energy, she said she had constituted the committee under Revenue Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi to study illegal mining of beach minerals like garnet, ilmenite and rutile in Tuticorin and later extended it to cover Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai districts.

Jayalalithaa's response came when DMDK member Alagaapuram R Mohan Raj wanted to know what action the government had taken against illegal mining of the beach minerals. The Chief Minister said the committee had submitted its report in respect of Tuticorin, while its findings about other districts were awaited, adding presently enquiry was on in Tirunelveli district.

Jayalalithaa said that based on the Bedi Committee report, her government would decide on a large mineral quarries policy. The state government had in August last set up the committee, following a report submitted by former Tuticorin District Collector Ashish Kumar that 2.25 lakh tonnes of mineral sand had been illegally mined.

PTI