An Assistant Director of Directorate of Geology and Mining in Ranipet has been relieved of duties on Thursday over allegations of demanding money from a stone quarry operator to relax mining norms.

As per an official order, a copy of it available with The Hindu, D. Mohan, Director of Geology and Mining, has relieved E. Srinivasarao, Assistant Director (AD), Directorate of Geology and Mining, Ranipet, with immediate effect.

Instead, A. Arumuganainar, Regional Joint Director of Geology and Mining (Villupuram), will hold full additional charge of the post of AD of Geology and Mining for Ranipet district.

The order cited “administrative reasons” for relieving Mr. Srinivasarao of his duties. He has not been allocated any posts. Sources in Geology and Mining department, which is located inside the sprawling Ranipet Collectorate complex, said that the issue related to an incident where the said officer reportedly demanded ₹2 lakh in cash from the stone quarry operator in the district to ease norms.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the operator reportedly complained to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Minerals and Mines, that also comprises the Department of Geology and Mines, headed by Minister T.K. Prabhu. Following the incident, the officer was relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

Residents of Edakuppam village, near Walajah town in Ranipet, blocked a tractor that carried loads of sludge to illegally dump in open plots on Edakuppam Main Road in the village, posing health hazards and polluting groundwater.

Residents said the village comprises nine wards with more than 10,000 persons, who are mostly petty traders, agricultural labourers and low-level government staff. Walajah and Ranipet towns are closer to the village. Along with other local bodies, Edakuppam village also depends on water supplied by the civic body through the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board and local water sources. “Such illegal dumping of sludge in open government plots poses health risks to residents. It will also pollute groundwater on which we depend for agriculture as our livelihood,” said G. Mahesan, a farmer.

Residents said that the village has a few lakes within its limits. Civic bodies around the village are illegally dumping sludge, meat wastes and other garbage on open plots near these water bodies. “During rain, slush from the dumped waste gets washed into nearby water bodies and pollutes water that is used for domestic consumption and irrigation. Schools, a government hostel and a temple are located on the stretch where such dumping is being done,” said R. Vimala, a resident.

Residents said that the village road has been used by many motorists including government buses, ambulances, cars and two-wheelers. Frequent accidents are caused by stray dogs and cattle thriving on garbage dumped on open lands along the stretch.

Apart from contamination of groundwater in the area, residents said that such dumping of wastes turned plots into mosquito breeding grounds. Regular fogging has not been done by the civic body for many months. They also alleged that no action has been taken by the civic body and panchayat union officials against waste dumping in the village despite numerous complaints.

Against this backdrop, residents stopped a tractor with a full load of sludge on the stretch on Thursday. The sludge was removed from clogged drains by surrounding civic bodies. Residents said that such vehicles that carry sludge to dump in open areas will be seized in the future. As the traffic was hit on the route, local police rushed to the spot and pacified the agitated residents, who dispersed peacefully.

Two persons, including an 11-year-old girl, were killed in separate accidents on Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH-48) near Arcot town in Ranipet on Sunday.

Police said the deceased were identified as V. Harish, 27, a native of Krishnagiri, and E. Jersey, 11, a resident of Chennai. Initial inquiry revealed that the omni-bus from Chennai was proceeding towards Bengaluru with 22 passengers when the bus driver, Mohammed Sherif, 28, a native of Chennai, suddenly lost control of the vehicle and hit a trailer lorry, which was going ahead of the bus on the stretch. The incident occurred around 3.30 a.m.

The lorry had a consignment of long concrete poles to deliver at a godown in Hosur town in Krishnagiri from Kancheepuram. As the bus driver tried to take the service lane from the carriageway behind the lorry, he lost control of the bus and rammed into the lorry. In the impact, Harish was killed and 18 others including six women passengers and two children were injured.

Immediately, passersby and other motorists rescued the injured persons, who were admitted at Government Taluk Hospital in Arcot town. A case was registered by Arcot Town police.

In the second accident, along with his wife Mary, 39, and daughter Jersey, 11, a businessman Edin, 45, was driving his car from Bengaluru to Chennai when he lost control of the vehicle at Ammananthangal village near Walajah town in Ranipet on the stretch and hit a jeep, which was ahead of the car. The incident happened around 8.30 a.m. Injured persons were rescued and sent to a private hospital where doctors said that Jersey was brought dead. A case was registered by Walajah police.