Firm to file writ to take sand out of port

The court delivered a historical judgment directing the state government to close all the sand quarries in the state in six months and to import sand to reduce illegal sand mining in the state. However, district collectors of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari appealed against the judgment and after arguments the verdict had been reserved in the case.

In the meantime, Ramaiah Enterprises from Pudukottai, which had imported sand from Malaysia, had filed an additional petition in the case at High Court in which the petitioner had stated that the imported sand from Malaysia is now kept inside VOC Port at Thoothukudi.

The rent for storing the sand inside Port is Rs 6 lakh a day and so far, the rental to be paid by the company is Rs 1.71 crore. Since it is too high, the sand needs to be transferred to another place which is also owned by Thoothukudi Port on a less monthly rental. So, the court should direct the Thoothukudi district administration to allow them to shift the sand outside Port, prayed the petitioner.

When the case was taken up for hearing, Thoothukudi Collector opposed shifting of sand outside Port.

Judges Krishnavalli and Kalyanasundaram said that as the judgement in the case had been reserved no specific orders can be given in the additional petition. So, the petitioner can file a separate writ petition if he wishes to take the sand outside the Port, said the Judges.