ILLEGAL MINING IN THADAGAM VALLEY AND AN EASY CREDIBLE METHOD TO IDENTIFY IT

Santhala R

12/10/2021

The Problem

On 6th Oct 2021, Thadagam Valley Protection Committee lodged a complaint that a particular parcel of land in 24 Veerapandi village, previously dug for brick making was being levelled using a Hitachi Poklean Machine against the orders of the National Green Tribunal. As the evidence for this, they had produced few photographs and a video. Subsequently this was widely reported in the media, following which officials from the mining department have visited the area. However it is doubtful whether the parcel of land seen in the evidence produced by the Thadagam Valley Protection Committee was rightly identified by the authorities. The photos depicting the visit by the officials do not match with the evidence previously provided. Hence it was necessary to device an easy, practical method to pinpoint any illegal activity going against the orders of the the National Green Tribunal.

Possible Approach to an EASY- CREDIBLE Solution

I have found the usage of Google Earth and Geographical Information System Softwares like QGIS in making this task easy.

1. Understanding the Terrain of the Valley is the First Basic requirement

For this I have developed a 3D model of the Valley. I have named the various mountain peaks surrounding the valley, the streams that flow from them and the roads that crisscross the valley. I have also noted their unique morphology and shapes.

2. Getting the Village Revenue Map and Geo Referencing it

MAC Mohan Uncle readily shared with me the required Revenue Maps of the 4 Gram Panchayats located in this Valley. Using Google Earth, I could find the Lat/Long Coordinates of the unique physiographic locations found in the Map. Using QGIS, I could Geo Reference the Map with these coordinates I had collected from Google Earth.

3. Studying the Photographic Evidence to Identify the presence of the Unique Physiographic Structures of the Valley to Pinpoint the possible Location of the Illegal Activity

Solving the Problem
1. Physiographic Map of the Thadagam Valley

2a. Geo-referenced Gram Panchayat Revenue Map in QGIS 

2b. Closeup of the Geo-referenced 24-Veerapandi GP Map

3. Studying the Evidence Photograph to identify the presence of any Unique Physiographic Structure of the Valley

Google Earth Image Sowing the Karki Malai View

So from this, I conclude the Point Of View of the photograph is towards the South-East direction taken from a North-East Point.

Street View of Google Earth places it in the Western end of 24 Veerapandi village.

Hence we need to look for:

1. A large pit with a perpendicular wall that is facing West on its South-Eastern end.

2. There should be a very large white roof of a brick factory in the South-Eastern direction

   of the pit.

3. The Veerapandi Village Revenue Map shows a large stream with a SF NO: 382

   running on the Northern boundary of the pit.

Searching Google Earth gives the following result:

I have digitised the streams of Thadagam Valley in the Google Earth and that gives the Following Image:

[ The stream by the side of the pit in orange is the fourth order stream of Sanganoor Pallam]

Thus I have identified the spot visually. Now I need to know its SF Number.

For this I can use the layering facility available in QGIS. In this I will be able to superimpose the geo-referenced 24 Veerapandi Revenue Map over the layer of Google Satellite Image.

This gives the following Image:

CONCLUSION

Thus, based on the foregoing evidences, I conclude that the location in question has to be SF NO: 358, 359 of the 24 Veerapandi Village of the Coimbatore North Taluk.

This approach I feel, would make the job of the authorities and the People’s committee to SAFEGAURD the life in the valley Easy and Authentic.

POST SCRIPT

OBSERVATION ON THE SURVEY NO: 358 OF 24 VEERAPANDI VILLAGE OF COIMBATORE NORTH TALUK, TAMILNADU, INDIA

(REF: 01)

SURVEY N.O: 358 has 2 major subdivisions : 1,2 

1 has 8 subdivisions from A to H
2 has 3 subdivisions from A to C.

358 1A - 1C - 2A (Patta NO.706)       Has 9 owners        53.58 ares

358 1A - 1G - (Patta NO.820)            Has 27 owners      23.00 ares

358 1C - (Patta NO.846)                    Has 2 owners        4.00 ares

358 1D -1B - 1H - (Patta NO.1100)    Has 35 owners      24.50 ares

358 1E - (Patta NO.852)                     Has 1 owner         2.50 ares

358 1F - (Patta NO.570)                     Has 4 owners       8.00 ares 

358 2B - (Patta NO.1776)                   Has 1 owner         1.00 ares

358 2C - (Patta NO.1777)                   Has 1 owner         0.92 ares

.............................................................................................................................. 

Total NO. of Owners :                                 80                 117.50 ares = 2.9 Acres

However, FMB (Field Measurement Book) Map from Patta Chitta website says that the area is only 95.00 ares = 2.3 Acres.

 COMPARING THE FMB MAP WITH THE VILLAGE SURVEY MAP

Comparing the FMB Map with the 24 Veerapandi Village Survey Map reveals that the FMB Map is INCORRECT.

                                 VILLAGE SURVEY MAP : 358                   FMB MAP : 358

NOTE:

1. 
   On the right side (East) of the Village Survey (VS) Map we see SF NO : 357; whereas in FMB Map we see SF NO:344

2. On the bottom side (South) of the VS Map, we see SF NO : 147; whereas in FMB Map we see SF NO: 346

3. On the Left hand side (West) of the VS Map, we see SF NO: 367; whereas in FMB Map we see SF NO: 357

4. The Boundaries of both the maps DO NOT COINCIDE. 

RECOMMENDATION:

The Revenue Authorities should look into the difference between the Village Revenue Map and the FMB Map as early as possible so that no individual involving in a Geo Illegal work in Thadagam Valley can escape the RULE OF LAW.

Reference

Ref 01: https://eservices.tn.gov.in/eservicesnew/land/ chittaNewRuralTamil.html?lan=ta