Get all the information on Heavy mining industry, various minerals and there location in India. VV Minerals is specialized in beach sand mining in India. VV Minerals is based in Tamil Nadu, India Mr. Vaikundarajan the chairman of VV Mineral.
Madras High court upheld its decision made by the state government to ban mining in the South. The government banned mining in August 2013 in respect of two companies involved in the alleged scam.
Petitions were filed by two companies - Transworld Garnet India Private Ltd and VV Mineral Mining, a company represented by its Managing Partner and founder S Vaikundarajan.
The petitions appeared before Justice T Raja who appointed a new inquiry committee headed by retired High Court Judge, Justice Vinod Kumar Sharma, to probe into the matter and reach a fair conclusion.
Furthermore, the orders of the government were held invalid by the judge. In respect to the inspection report submitted by the earlier committee headed by IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi, the judge stated, “They are legally valid and as such the same cannot be disturbed.”
The mining of beach sand has been halted since the orders were issued. Justice Raja concluded that Gagandeeep Singh Bedi was likely to be biased and prejudiced against the companies and should not have been the chairperson of the special committee. He further said that the IAS Officer may have heard the company’s business rivals such as Dhayadevadas but refused to extend the same benefit of personal hearing to companies.
“There is every possibility of the officer getting motivated against the companies,” said the judge in reference to VV Mineral’s complaint to National Human Rights Commission leveling harassment allegations against Bedi in 97-98.
According to Mines and Minerals Act of 1957, The beaches of Orissa Sand Complex, Manavalakurichi in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, have been identified as the main monazite bearing area in the country.
It is said that 2.1 million tons of monazite has vanished from the beaches of India since 2014. Most of this blame has been pointed at VV Minerals India, bringing the founder of the company, S Vaikundarajan under the scanner.
While a committee has been put together to investigate the matter; the locals have shown skepticism and requested for a CBI enquiry.
The district collector of Tuticorin, Ashish Kumar, was one of the members looking into the matters. On receiving transfer orders, many pointed out the connection VV Minerals India and the ongoing investigation. Ashish Kumar, however, never even mentioned the link.
There have been several other accusations of illegal beach mining against VV Minerals. However, no proof has been submitted by the accuser to back the allegations. VV Mineral Vaikundarajan, who set up the business in late 90s, insists that his company is not involved in any illegal activities.
He has openly supported the investigating committee and assures that the result will be in their favor.
VV Minerals has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. The beach mining company was founded by Vaikundarajan in late 1980s and has won several national awards for its contribution to the export business. However, following several allegations of illegal beach mining, a ban was imposed and a committee was set up for investigation.
The state government suspended all mining activities in the south when illegal sand mining allegations surfaced against VV Minerals India. Following this, a special investigation team was set up to probe into the matter.
VV Minerals India is a leading beach sand mining company established by Vaikundarajan in late 1980s. The company has won several national awards for its contribution to the export business. The founder was undeterred by these allegations and said, ““It is a ploy by business rivals to defame the company.”
A former IAS Officer, V Sundaram wrote a letter claiming that due to the sand mafia, the government had lost nearly 90000 crores to illegal mining. He further alleged to have received threatening phone calls for his comments in the media.
In his letter to the state’s chief secretary, Niranjan Mardi, Sundaram stated, “I derive my constitutional right to serve as a fearless whistleblower under article 51A of the Indian Constitution.” He further assured to continue fighting public corruptions and demanded immediate police protection from the government.
While there is no evidence to prove any illegal activity on the part of VV Mineral India, S Ravindran Duraisamy released a statement, “Mr Sundaram's complaint against us is a publicity stunt. He has joined hands with our business rival Mr Daya Devadosan. We came out clean earlier after an inspection in May and this time too we will come out clean.”
VV Minerals was founded by S Vaikundarajan in late 1980s. Under his tutelage, the company has grown into one of the leading mining companies in India. The company has won several national awards for its contribution to the industry.
However, VV Minerals has lately been in the spotlight for carrying illegal sand mining activities. Ashish Kumar, an IAS Officer who was a part of investigation faced transfer orders during his investigation stint. These transfers are often rumored to have been a forced move by VV Mineral Vaikundarajan. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that the sand mining baron has anything to do with it.
An investigation team was set up by the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to probe the accusations of illegal sand mining in five districts of the state. A special team headed by senior IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi was set up to investigate the matter.
Geologist Victor Rajamanickam argues that beach sand minerals worth Rs. 1 lakh crore have been illegally exported out of the country. Such allegations against a company that has won national awards for its contribution to export business are truly surprising. Moreover, these allegations are not supported by evidence or have been affirmed by the investigating committee.
VV Minerals holds legal documents authorizing the company to mine and export monazite. These documents were issues by the Tamil Nadu Geology and Mining Department. How is it then that the sand mining operations of VV Minerals are deemed illegal? Asks Vaikundarajan.
With the ongoing investigation, VV Mineral Mining puts his faith in the judiciary and believes that his company will come clean. He has openly offered complete support to the investigation committee.
According to research, excluding minerals like ilmenite, rutile and zircon in sand mining process could create about 5 lakh jobs and lead to big forex earnings. Following these results, Beach Sand Mineral industry has sought exclusion of these minerals. VV Minerals India founder and MD S Vaikundarajan said, “They are not used in atomic energy production and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) de-listed them from the list of prescribed substances with effect from January 1, 2007. But they have not been de-listed from the MMDR Act.”
S Vaikundarajan founded VV Minerals India in late 1980s. Being a simple man of simple tastes, there is little information on him and his family.
However, recently he has been in the news for allegations of illegal beach sand mining. Ashwin Kumar, IAS officer from Tuticorin and V Sundaram, an ex-IAS officer are the two civil servants who have raised allegations against him and his company. After stating his ire in media, the former received transfer orders which were blamed as an act by VV Mineral Vaikundarajan himself. VV Minerals India has dismissed all allegations and urged that the investigating team will soon come up with a report in his favor.
VV Mineral Vaikundarajan is often seen in white shirt and dhoti by locals. VV Minerals is the first private company to win a license to mine minerals and export them. The company has won several national awards for its contribution to the export business.
As of now, the National Green Tribunal has banned sand mining in coastal areas. Following the ban, the government has set up an investigating team to look into the issue. VV Mineral loyalists have maintained their support for the company.
