TN closes 23 quarries in Virudhunagar after drone survey finds violations

Madurai: Tamil Nadu natural resources minister T K Prabhu on Tuesday ordered the temporary suspension of 23 stone quarries in Virudhunagar district after drone-based surveys found quarrying activity beyond leased boundaries.Officials from the geology and mining department surveyed 76 quarries using drones as part of measures to check illegal mineral extraction in the district. The action followed a review meeting chaired by the minister with department officials on Tuesday morning.The government said further action would be initiated based on detailed drone survey reports submitted by officials.Notably, on Monday, the minister ordered the temporary closure of 18 stone quarries in Tenkasi district after inspections found violations during field audits conducted by three teams led by assistant collectors.Authorities had inspected 54 quarries following complaints from residents. Earlier that day, the minister also conducted a surprise inspection at the Puliyarai checkpost on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border and examined vehicle movement registers, penalty records and monitoring data linked to transportation of mineral resources from southern districts to Kerala.