Tamil Nadu Minister reports destruction of ancient hills by illegal mining

Tamil Nadu Natural Resources Minister TK Prabhu informed the State Assembly that excessive and illegal mining has caused the disappearance of approximately 10 ancient hills and hillocks across the state. These geological formations, some estimated to be around 3.2 billion years old, were largely destroyed due to indiscriminate quarrying for M-sand and other construction aggregates.

The destruction spans several districts, including Perambalur, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, and Tenkasi. Minister Prabhu noted that significant environmental degradation occurred particularly after 2021. He also highlighted discrepancies in mineral reporting, alleging that the actual volume of natural resources mined significantly exceeds the quantities reported for revenue purposes.

In response to these irregularities, the government is implementing several measures. Penalties totaling Rs 500 crore have been imposed on 309 quarries, and 250 vehicles were seized in Tenkasi for unauthorized mineral transport. Future enforcement will include the development of an integrated digital mineral management portal, a dedicated mining control room, and the use of drones and satellite technology to monitor operations.