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curb mining operations in Vatsalvalasa village Gara allegedly not taken any steps over the said huge quan-
Mandal of Srikakulam district.”. tities of Monazite. The mining operations in entire
Trimex, however, has denied the allegation. “The mining lease area is not only causing loss of revenue
information pertaining to alleged illegal mining of to the State Government but is also a serious threat
beach sand minerals and export of atomic miner- to the nation via export of these Beach Sand Miner-
als is false and wrong. Kindly note that all the min- als which contain Monazite (radioactive mineral). It
ing activities of the company are in conformity with appears even Indian Rare Earths Elements is not
extant laws, rules and regulations. A few private indi- aware of the wrongdoings.
viduals with vested interests and oblique motives and As per the investigations by the Vigilance and
without locus-standi filed complaints with the gov- Enforcement Directorate of Andhra Pradesh Gov-
ernments and other agencies on several occasions ernment, “the Trimex Industries failed to conduct
against us,” it said. mining operations in accordance to the scheme
The DG recommended to the Principal Secretary, prescribed for the mining and violated the depth of
Revenue Department to “recover 1,295.63 crores mining, protection of sand dunes and adequate plan-
as no clearance was given by the Revenue Depart- tations in and around the mining lease area as per
ment for mining in disputed land. Enquiry needs the environment clearance issued by the Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Govern-
the illegal export of ment of India vide No. J-11015/175/2011-A-11(M). The Animals dying during illegal
Trimex Industries allegedly failed to conduct mining
radioactive and atomic operations in accordance to the scheme of mining mining is a common instance
approved by the authorities in violation of Rule 22-A
of Mineral Conservation and Department Rules, 1988.
minerals including Inaction or complicity

concentrated monazite The Vigilance and Enforcement Department, Gov-
ernment of Andhra Pradesh vide its another report
tailings, which contains dated 11.03.2016 recommended “recovery of 1295.63
crores from Trimex Group for illegally mining and
thorium, a mineral selling 17,58,112 MTs of Beach Sand Minerals includ-
ing Monazite”. The Department also recommended
action against various state government officials of
that can be used in revenue department for permitting illegal mining
operations by Trimex Industries”.a
the nuclear industry, is officials of Department of Mines and Geology who
In action was also recommended against “various
a threat to security executed, allowed mining operations and issued tran-
sit permits for transportation of Beach Sand Miner-
als”. Immediate suspension of mining operations was
also suggested as these were in violation of Rule 22-A Extracts of the report
of Mineral Concession Rule 22-A o f Mineral Conces-
to be initiated against the Tehsildars, Gara Mandal, sion Rules, 1960 and Rule 13 of Mineral Conversation
Srikakulam district who allowed mining operations and Department Rules, 1988. and export of atomic minerals over the last two decades.” i.e. the entire 7.2 sq.kms of the area including the subject
in disputed areas of un-surveyed land of Vatsavalasa The Government of Andhra Pradesh, in its report, The Trimex version, however, is different.”The Hon’ble land. Both the orders are still in force and subsisting,” the
village, Gara Mandal”. observed that “the firm conducted mining operations High Court restrained the Forest Department from inter- company said in a statement.
Same report also suggested to Principal Secre- in Vatsavalasa, Gara villages in district Srikakulum fering with the mining operation carried out by Trimex The inaction of the government officials despite
tary, Government of Andhra Pradesh to “suspend district against the revenue clearance and minutes of in survey numbers 216 & 217 of Vatsavalasa Village, Gara evidence of the numerous illegalities committed by
the mining operations as the mining lease holder public hearing dated 07.10.2003 issued by the District Mandal. Despite such order, the Forest Department tried Trimex Group companies is very obviously the result of
had failed to conduct the mining operations in Collector, Srikakulum. to interfere with the mining operations in the year 2012 considerable influence wielded by its promoters, official
accordance with mining plan under Mineral Con- Investigations will require examining overseas under the pretext that the said Order restrained them lethargy and the close nexus with the decision makers in
cession Rules”. Copies of the report were sent to holdings of the group mining companies as also the only with the mining operations under survey numbers the highest levels of bureaucracy and political executive,
Principal Secretary, Revenue, Principal Secretary, overseas companies to which exports of atomic min- 216 and 217. reports suggest. Whether the State and the Centre will
Industries and Commerce and Chief Secretary, erals have taken place. Hence, this requires a thor- Being aggrieved by such arbitrary action, Trimex take action of their own accord, or leave it to the courts to
Andhra Pradesh Government, however, mining and ough and detailed probe by competent investiga- filed another writ petition and the Hon’ble High Court decide, will unfold now.
illegal export of Monazite continued unabated. tive agencies like the CBI, to probe into national and restrained them from interfering with its mining activi-
Till date, the Department of Atomic Energy has international dimensions of illegal transportation ties in all the survey numbers, which are covered by G.O letters@tehelka.com

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