ED Seeks Assistance Of ISRO And IIT Kanpur For Probe Into Illegal Sand Mining In Tamil Nadu: Report

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing illegal sand mining in the state has sought assistance from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the IIT-Kanpur, reported The Hindu.

The report stated that the satellite images of mining locations provided by ISRO would be used to study the depth to which sand had been mined and IIT Kanpur would then use the data to estimate the quantum, which would help in estimating the amount of tax revenue lost to the government.

Further, it stated that A Muthaiya, the Engineer in Chief and Chief Engineer General of the Water Resources Department, who had written to senior engineers to provide details of illegal sand mining had gone on leave and another officer had taken charge in his place.

In a statement after the raids, the ED stated,"Directorate of Enforcement (ED) carried out searches at 34 locations including 8 sand mining yards on 12/09/2023 in 6 districts of Tamil Nadu, residential and business premises of various persons including S. Ramachandran, K. Rathinam, Karikalan and their accomplices, Auditor P. Shanmugaraj and officials of Water Resources Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu in illegal sand mining case.

"ED initiated investigation on basis of FIRs registered in various parts of Tamil Nadu disclosing allegations about huge illegal mining of river sand and gravel quarry etc. Numerous complaints have been registered with Law Enforcement Agencies, highlighting illegal mining practices rampant across Tamil Nadu.

"During the search incriminating documents including diaries, bogus fake sale receipts with counterfeit QR code were found suggestive of illegal sand sales. Evidences of bogus transactions, benami companies were found. During the search, Rs. 12.82 Crore was put under freeze and unaccounted cash for Rs. 2.33 Crore was seized along with gold weighing 1024.6 grams worth Rs 56.86 Lakh."