Justice for Tamil Nadu: Environmental Activists Demand Compensation and Honor Fallen Leader’s Legacy

Chennai – Environmental activists in Tamil Nadu are gearing up for protests statewide after the tragic death of K. Jagaber Ali. Ali was killed by a tipper lorry on January 17 while he was documenting illegal stone quarrying in the Thirumayam area. In connection with this incident, police have arrested five suspects, and the Crime Branch is currently investigating the case. The Federation of Environmental Activists of Tamil Nadu (FEAT) is demanding ₹1 crore in compensation for Ali’s family and plans to hold a demonstration in Thirumayam on February 16.

This incident shines a light on the ongoing struggle between environmental activists and illegal mining in Tamil Nadu. Activists say there are about 12,000 stone quarries operating in the state, but the revenue from these quarries is only ₹1,835 crore each year. Environmental groups are urging the state government to take over these operations, believing that this could increase revenue to over ₹1 lakh crore. N. Shanmugham, an organizer in the fight against illegal quarrying, pointed out that activists often put themselves in danger to protect the environment, frequently without proper support from authorities.

The Tamil Nadu government has started using technology to tackle illegal mining. They’ve implemented drone surveillance to check the sizes and volumes of quarries; around 200 quarries have already been surveyed. Additionally, 23 agencies are conducting Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) surveys for 1,132 mines to ensure they operate within their legal boundaries. The state has also launched an online mineral management system and a mining surveillance program. Despite these efforts, activists argue that the government needs to enforce stricter measures to prevent tragedies like Ali’s death from happening again.

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Environmental Activists ,Tamil Nadu,Federation of Environmental Activists of Tamil Nadu