Page 26 - 15OCT2018E

TehelkaImpact LEGAL

Illegal mining by Trimex

Group suspended as Mining truth Trimex was accused

SC takes cognizance of illegally mining Beach Sand
Atomic Minerals worth
`1295.63 crores

At long last, the mining operations by Trimex Sands Private (IBM) and the Atomic Minerals Direc-
Limited or East West Mineral Sands Private Limited have been torate (AMD) come under the Union
Ministry of Mines and the Department
suspended “for illegal mining in violation of lease deed conditions”. of Atomic Energy are directly under the the report which was already with them for more than
again requested.
With this, Trimex Sands Private Limited or the East West Mineral purview of the Prime Minister. 90 days at the time, was once jan Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary to the
On August 21, 2018, Dr Niran-
Sands Private Limited, the Andhra Pradesh government, the Ministry wakes up Government of India, Ministry of Mines, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, sub-
Department of Atomic Energy and the Union Ministry of Mines Unfortunately, it was only after notices sequent to receiving the Action Taken Report of the State Government for
have met their nemesis, writes CHARANJIT AHUJA were issued by the Supreme Court on the third time on 03.08.2018, wrote a most urgent letter (No. 16/12/2013.M.IV)
rector (Mines), Government of Andhra
to B Sridhar, secretary and Di -
09.07.2018 that officials of Ministry of
Mines who were sitting on the Action Pradesh, regarding “illegal mining of heavy mineral beach sand in Srikaku-
ehelka had exposed the notices on July 9, 2018, to the Ministry Take Report of State Government of lum, Andhra Pradesh, by M/S Tri- mex Sands Private Limited”. He suggested
large-scale illegal mining of Environment, Ministry of Mines and Andhra Pradesh for over three months, that in view of the gravity of the matter, “it is requested to take concrete
and its exports going on for Department of Atomic Energy, which once again wrote to the State Govern- action and a compliance report in the matter be provided to
over a decade and collusion directly comes under Prime Minister’s ment on 25.07.2018, requesting the
T by various departments of Office. Sarma had also made a com- same action taken report for the third
the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh plaint to the Prime Minister Narendra time since 20.04.2018. Only officials of
government — from the Department Modi since the Indian Bureau of Mines Ministry of Mines can answer as to why RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
of Atomic Energy to the Union Minis- Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 500/2018
try of Mines as well as various depart- VERSUS
ITEM NO.9 COURT NO.3 SECTION PIL-W
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
ments of the State. And finally, the UNION OF INDIA & ORS.
mining lease for beach sand minerals CORAM :
Date : 12-09-2018
E.A.S. SARMA
over a huge 7.20 sq kms by Trimex has Approval missing No clearance Petitioner(s)

been suspended in Vastavalasa and was given by the Revenue For Petitioner(s)
(FOR IA No.72214/2018-CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION )
Thonangi villages, Gara Mandal, Sri- Department for mining in HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN B. LOKUR Respondent(s)
kakulum district in Andhra Pradesh. disputed land For Respondent(s) HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK GUPTA
This matter was called on for hearing today.
Our first investigative story “The
Mr. Prashant Bhushan, Adv.
Black Truth: Larger than Coal Block Ms. Prerna Singh, Adv.
Mr. Pranav Sachdeva, AOR
scam” (Tehelka, May 15, 2018) exposed Mr. Vijay Prakash, Adv.
Mr. Guntur Prabhakar, AOR
the unholy nexus between mining Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Adv.
Mr. A.N.S. Nadkarni, ASG
Ms. Suhasini Sen, Adv.
mafias and government departments, Mr. Naveen Goel, Adv.
while “Skeletons in Trimex cupboard” Mr. Nikhil Goel, AOR
Mr. D.L. Chidanand, Adv.
Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR
(Tehelka, June 15, 2018) revealed how O R D E R
Mr. Ashutosh Ghade, Adv.
money bags were exchanged and for some time.
“Tehelka investigations into illegal min- Digitally signed by
Signature Not Verified
SANJAY KUMAR
ing: Supreme Court issues notice in Reason: We have heard submissions of learned counsel for the parties
17:12:42 IST
Date: 2018.09.13
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
PIL” (Tehelka July 15, 2018) wrote that During the course of hearing, our attention has been drawn to
the Apex Court had taken cognizance a communication dated 21.08.2018 issued by the Ministry of Mines in
of the serious allegations made in a Government of India that since the lessee (M/s Trimex Group) has
PIL filed by Dr EAS Sarma and issued 1
the Government of India. In para 4 (iv), it is stated by the
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