Salem: Salem west DMK secretary and former MP TM Selvaganapathy said illegal mining was rampant in the assembly segment of Edappadi, which the chief minister represents.
After visiting Pakkanadu union near Edappadi on Tuesday, Selvaganapathy said illegal mining had been taking place there since 2016. “Miners are taking red soil to brick kilns from here.”
He said they were using the mining order that was issued to them in 2016 by making changes to the date and vehicle numbers. “All the illegal miners are using the same order copy and they are smuggling 500 truckloads of red soil.”
Talking to TOI, he said the mining department officials and the ruling party functionaries were involved in the illegal mining activity. “They are causing huge financial loss to the state government. I will take up the issue with the district collector and if he fails to take action, I will move the Madras high court.”
Selvaganapathy later petitioned collector S A Raman.