Sattur tahsildar suspended for failing to prevent illegal soil mining

Madurai: Virudhunagar district collector V P Jeyaseelan on Wednesday suspended Sattur tahsildar Ramanathan for failing to prevent illegal soil mining from an irrigation tank in E Kumaralingapuram village, Sattur block.According to official sources, more officials from the revenue, agriculture, and water resources departments are likely to face departmental action over similar charges.Farmers are permitted to take alluvial soil from irrigation tanks for fertilizing their fields, with revenue officials authorized to issue permits. Ramanathan had issued a permit to a farmer from Veppilaipatti on Jan 4. However, soil smugglers misused it to mine gravel from the waterbody beyond the permitted level.Acting on complaints, a revenue team led by the revenue divisional officer raided the site and found three earthmovers and seven trucks engaged in illegal quarrying. The village administrative officer of E Kumaralingapuram filed a complaint with Vachakarapatti police, who seized the vehicles and launched a search for the smugglers who fled the spot.Following the raid, the collector suspended Ramanathan for his inaction.