ORDER

Vide G.O.(3D) No.21, Natural Resources Department, dated 17.09.2025, the Government had granted quarry permission in favour of the 6threspondent herein. The said G.O is put to challenge by the writ petitioner who is a resident of Kotta Natham village.

2. The writ petition has been filed primarily on the premise that the distance rule set out in Rule 36 of the Tamil Nadu Mines and Minerals Concession Rules, 1959 has been breached. According to the petitioner's counsel, the quarry site is located within 22 meters from a water body. 3. The learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the authorities as well as the learned counsel appearing for the 6^th respondent point out that the aforesaid Rule is not applicable to the quarry lease concerning colored granites. Rule 36 is applicable only to stone quarries. The expression “stone” has been defined as follows:-

“'stone' shall mean rough stones including khandas, boulders, size- reduced (broken or crushed) materials including metal jelly,ballasts, mill stones, hand chakais and building and ro