The Madras High Court bench here Monday sought to know how many areas in Tamil Nadu have been declared as eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) and eco-sensitive (ESA) areas by the central government under the environment protection Act.

Justices N Kirubakaran and S S Sundar, hearing a PIL on closure of quarries near wildlife sanctuaries and eco-sensitive areas of Kanyakumari district, asked the special government pleader to find out from the state government as to how many ESZs and ESAs were permitted for mining.

Also, the judges asked whether licence had been issued from the National Board for Wildlife or Standing Committee for Wildlife for carrying mining operations within 10 km of the Kanyakumari wildlife sanctuary.

Then, the bench posted the case for hearing on April 16.

The judges sought details of number of licences granted for mining clearance and how many companies or proprietors had obtained clearance from the National Board for Wildlife in Kanyakumari district.

The bench wanted to know what was the volume of mining and minerals lifted and transported from quarries in Kanyakumari.

The judges asked as to who was the collector of Kanyakumari district who had given licences for all these mining operations and the name of the officer, who was acting as Appellate Authority, and set aside the order passed by the collector who refused to give the licences.

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