Officials of Tamil Nadu’s Mineral Resources Department are compiling records related to alleged river sand quarry irregularities that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had flagged during the previous DMK regime.
According to the information cited, river sand quarries operated at 23 locations, with four contractors involved in transporting sand from the quarries to yards. Complaints had alleged that sand was being extracted beyond permitted limits.
The ED registered a case in 2023 and carried out an inquiry, including drone-based inspections at quarries. The agency said the findings showed a significant gap between the quantity of sand allegedly removed and the revenue received by the government, and it indicated illegal money transactions to the tune of ₹4,736 crore.
In connection with the case, the ED issued notices to the district collectors of Vellore, Karur, Thanjavur, Ariyalur and Tiruchirappalli. The then state government opposed the move and told the High Court and the Supreme Court that it would conduct the probe on its own.
However, no inquiry was carried out during the previous regime, and the issue remained pending. With a change in government, officials said files on the current status of the case and the basis for further investigation have been forwarded to the government, and announcements on the next steps are expected soon.
