Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has directed officials to prepare a report on operating sand and stone quarries without irregularities, with the aim of improving revenue to the state.
Tamil Nadu has sand resources in several rivers including the Palar, Thamirabarani, Cauvery, Kosasthalaiyar, Araniyar and Vellar. While earlier governments announced that sand sales would be handled by the state and even created an online portal, key activities such as sand extraction and transport to depots were handed over to private contractors—a practice that continued even after the DMK came to power in 2021.
According to the report, this arrangement led to sand being mined and sold beyond permitted limits at multiple quarries, with hundreds of crores in potential government revenue allegedly diverted to ruling party functionaries and officials. In connection with the issue, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at premises linked to quarry contractors in districts including Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Pudukkottai, Namakkal and Dindigul, seizing documents, cash and jewellery. The related case is pending before the Supreme Court.
Amid the controversy, the DMK government had kept quarries closed. With the Taveka government now in office, action has reportedly been taken to shut down stone quarries operating irregularly, and the administration is considering reopening sand and stone quarries in phases.
A Water Resources Department official said irregularities stemmed from outsourcing quarry operations to private contractors. The official added that Chief Minister Vijay has instructed that quarries be run without commissions and that the report should detail operational models, whether to purchase or rent machinery and trucks, and the expected costs. The report is being prepared and is expected to be submitted to the Chief Minister soon, after which quarries may be reopened gradually.
