As part of the State-wide initiative to combat illegal mining in quarries operating with and without permits, a crackdown on quarries for extractive mining over and above the permissible limits is under way in Krishnagiri district.As part of the exercise ordered by the State government, the district administration has increased its surveillance on quarries.Five ordinary stone quarries and two granite quarries were temporarily sealed over illegal mining under the orders of Krishnagiri Collector C. Dinesh Kumar here. In addition, over 95 vehicles were impounded jointly by the Police, Revenue and Mines officials for illegal mining and transport/smuggling of minerals. This included 56 vehicles seized by the Department of Mines since January 2026 until May.The Collector chaired a review meeting at the Krishnagiri Collectorate to assess the action taken on illegal mining. Line Department officials were instructed to take action on quarries operating without permits, operating long after the expiry of the lease period, operating without environmental clearances, crushers operating without Pollution Control Board permits and without warehouses, among other criteria.Officials were also directed to be vigilant and take punitive action on vehicles transporting mined minerals multiple times with a single transit permits. Quarries that divert use of explosives for quarries or lacking in standard safety protocols, such as exposing dangerously perched rocks and at the risk of landslide must be immediately identified and sealed. Similarly, vehicles transporting minerals to the neighbouring State without paying Green tax must be seized, the Collector added. Published - May 30, 2026 07:46 pm IST