Officials halt operations of 7 unauthorised brick kilns

Coimbatore: The district administration and the department of geology and mining have ordered seven brick kilns, which were set up in Veerapandi and Chinna Thadagam during 2019-20, to stop operations.
According to activists, more than 180 unauthorised brick kilns operating in the Thadagam region are mining red earth illegally.
After local residents and activists launched protest movements, the pollution control board recommended closure of 182 of the units earlier this year. The activists also filed a litigation in the Madras high court against the unauthorised mines.
S Ganesh of Chinna Thadagam, who has been vocal in the fight, said they had informed officials of the district administration, revenue, and geology and mining about the new kilns on June 7. “A team of officials inspected the kilns and informed them to stop operations. But the kilns are still operating,” he said.
An official, who inspected the kilns, said they had ordered them to stop work immediately on Monday. “None of the kilns in the region and surroundings have permission to operate. Also, as the matter is sub-judice in the Madras high court, we can’t allow new kilns to operate,” he said.
The kilns that ignore the order and continue operation will be sealed, Coimbatore collector K Rajamani said.