TN: Rs 8000 crore hoarded granite found

Madurai: The continuing crackdown against illegal quarrying in the region has, as on Monday, unearthed granite blocks estimated to be worth Rs 8,000 crore in quarries at Keelavalavu and Keelaiyur. Officials of the district administration have assessed 45,730 granite blocks in these quarries till date.

These officials were part of the 20 special teams formed by Collector Anshul Mishra to assess the granite blocks allegedly hoarded by quarry owners in Keelavalavu, Keelaiyur, E Malampatti and Thiruvadhavur near here.

While 22,000 blocks have been found at Keelaiyur, 23,730 were found at Keelavalavu, sources said. “As of now, we have identified property worth around Rs 3,000 crore,” an official said.

Another deposit found

The officials of the special teams unearthed yet another huge deposit of granite, allegedly hidden by the fraudulent firms, in Keelavalavu. “We got information from the villagers that a container lorry was parked in the east of the Keelavalavu quarry hills. Our officials went to the spot and identified the lorry. The officials were shocked when they found out that the place was filled with around 15,000, of granite blocks,” an official detailed.

Palanichamy in jail

In a related development, PRP Exports shareholder P Palanichamy was produced before the Melur Magistrate court on Monday. Magistrate Jeykumar ordered that he be lodged in judicial custody till September 7.