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TehelkaImpact LEGAL

to yield thorium, a nuclear fuel and it A Public Accounts worth `1,295.63 crores.” The report in disputed areas of un-surveyed land Despite a lapse Govt of India, has been taking this cause
is neither allowed to be exported nor Committee recently said that “as much as 9750 MT of of Vatsavalasa village, Gara Mandal”. of over two and a with various authorities for a number
sold by private companies but was Monazite was mined and stored by The Vigilance and Enforcement of years. However, when the authori-
allegedly being sold and exported. found the Trimex Trimex Industries in pits under their Department, Government of Andhra half years since the ties took no action, he had no option but
A Public Accounts Committee had Group was not processing plant”. Pradesh, vide its another report dated to approach the apex court with a PIL
also found the Trimex Group was not The report of AR Anuradha, 11.03.2016 recommended “recovery of report of vigilance seeking cancellation of mines operated
only indulging in illegal mining but only indulging in Director General (Vigilance & En - `1,295.63 crores from Trimex Group department, no by Trimex Group of Companies along
illegal export of Monazite. Names of forcement), states, “The officials of the for illegally mining and selling 17,58,112 with a Court monitored investigation
Rajendra Prasad Koneru, an Andhra illegal mining but Mines and Geology Department have MTs of Beach Sand Minerals includ- effort has been made into the collusion of State and Central
politician and his two sons — Madhu also exporting allowed mining operations and issued ing Monazite”. The Department also by the State govt to Government officials.
Koneru and Pradeep Koneru — and transit permits for transportation of recommended action against various It is unfortunate that despite a lapse
Trimex Sands (P) Limited, appeared Monazite against Beach Sand minerals from the disput- state government officials of revenue recover 1,295 crores of over two and a half years since the
as alleged accused in case of illegal the Indian laws ed area of 387.72 acres against stipu- department for permitting illegal min- from Trimex Group report of DG, Vigilance, Government
mining and export of atomic minerals. lated conditions. The officials failed ing operations by Trimex Industries”. of Andhra Pradesh, no effort what -
The illegal acts, according to the to curb mining operations in Vatsal- It was the Hon’ble Supreme Court of soever has been made by the State
investigation reports, came to light out illegal mining operations in part valasa village Gara Mandal of Srikaku- India that took cognizance of the seri- after hearing Prashant Bhushan not- Government to recover the sum of
when a detailed report of another of the area of 387.72 acres in their lam district.” ous allegations made in the PIL filed ed senior counsel appearing for the 1,295 crores that was illegally mined by
enquiry conducted by the officials of mining lease”. The Director Mines The DG recommended to the Prin- by Dr EAS Sarma and issued notices petitioner, made strong observa - Trimex Group. In fact by now the recov-
Indian Bureau of Mines, Forest, Rev- and Geology, Government of Andhra cipal Secretary, Revenue Department to various Union of India ministries tions on the illegal mining activities of erable sum would amount to more than
enue and Director and Mines and Pradesh had also suggested action to “recover `1,295.63 crores as no clear- including Ministry of Environment, Trimex Group Companies that have double the aforesaid amount. At such
Geology, Hyderabad on 06.03.2013, on his report-dated 20.09.2013. The ance was given by the Revenue Depart- Ministry of Mines and Department of been allowed to go unhindered by both high stakes, it is only the Supreme Court
Director, Mines and Geology submitted investigations had found that “Tri - ment for mining in disputed land. En- Atomic Energy, which directly comes Central and State Government authori- that can prompt any action against such
to Principal Secretary to Government mex Industries had conducted mining quiry needs to be initiated against the under Prime Minister’s office. ties and have asked them to submit illegal miners and corrupt officials.
(Industries & Commerce), highlighted over 304.40 acres of disputed land Tehsildars, Gara Mandal, Srikakulam The bench headed by Justice Madan their replies within 2 weeks.
that “Trimex Industries had carried
1
ITEM NO.19 COURT NO.3 SECTION PIL-W and illegally excavated minerals district who allowed mining operations Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta Dr EAS Sarma, a former Secretary, LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s).500/2018
E.A.S. SARMA Petitioner(s) 10/08/2018
VERSUS Respondent(s) Gmail - Beach Sand mining operations by Trimex Group in Srikakulam District (AP)- Damage to environment, violation of mining laws and clan… Sum total The recoverable amount
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. Bcc: pranavsachdeva@gmail.com Pranav Sachdeva <pranavsachdeva@gmail.com> now due to inaction of the authorities
(WITH IA No.72214/2018-CLARIFICATION/DIRECTION )
Monazite
from Trimex might have doubled by
Date : 18-09-2018 This petition was called on for hearing today.
EAS Sarma <eassarma@gmail.com>
To: Nripendra Misra <nmisra@rediffmail.com>

E A S Sarma
Beach Sand mining operations by Trimex Group in Srikakulam District (AP)­
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MADAN B. LOKUR Maharanipeta 8 August 2018 at 12:54 in past couple of years
Damage to environment, violation of mining laws and clandestine export of
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK GUPTA
CORAM :
(Former Secretary to Govt of India)
14-40-4/1 Gokhale Road
Mr. Pranav Sachdeva, AOR

Visakhapatnam 530002
For Petitioner(s) Mr. Prashant Bhushan, Adv. Shri Nripender Mishra
Mr. A.N.S. Nadkarni, ASG
Mr. D.L. Chidanand, Adv.
For Respondent(s) Ms. Suhasini Sen, Adv. South Block,
Principal Secretary
Mr. Vijay Prakash, Adv.
Prime Minister’s Office
Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Adv.
Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR
Mr. Guntur Prabhakar, AOR New Delhi.
Ms. Prerna Singh, Adv.
Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, Sr. Adv. Dear Shri Misra.

Mr. D. Prakash Reddy, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Nikhil Goel, AOR
Subject: Writ Petition No. 500 of 2018 in Hon’ble Supreme Court.
Mr. Avinash Desai, Adv.
Mr. D. Satya Sivadarshan, Adv.
Ms. Naveen Goel, Adv.
Mr. Prashant Tyagi, Adv.
Mr. P. Venkat Reddy, Adv. I am the Petitioner in the above cited Writ Petition filed before Hon'ble Supreme Court.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following

O R D E R For the last several years, in my
Signature Not Verified Learned counsel for the State of Andhra Pradesh has
Andhra Pradesh. I believe that the issues arising in this connection are of national importance.
I wish to bring to your notice the following concerns of mine on beach sand mining in Srikakulam district in
Digitally signed by
SANJAY KUMAR
Date: 2018.09.18
17:08:47 IST Energy (DAE) and the State government, I have time and again raised my concerns about illegalities in the mining
Reason: of beach sands in general and beach sand mining in Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh in particular and the possibility
suspending mining operations by Respondent No.5.
placed on record an order dated 17 th September, 2018 letters addressed to the Union Ministry of Mines, the Department of Atomic
Action replay It was only after notices were 1/8
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=580b5e2ea6&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-f%3A1608214731106815692&simpl=msg-f%3A1608214731106815…
issued by the apex court that Ministry of Mines
sprung into action after a three-month pause
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