The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has roped in experts from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian Institute of Technology- Kanpur (IIT-K) to assist in its ongoing investigation into allegations of excessive sand mining in Tamil Nadu, official sources said on Sunday.
Investigators from the ED have sought the support of scientists of ISRO and IIT-K to assess the area and quantum of sand mined along riverbeds in the State. As part of the probe into allegations that a huge quantity of sand was excavated in violation of environmental clearance norms and sold illegally to sand lorry owners without any record, evading taxes, the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and searched designated sand mining sites in six districts on September 12, 2023.