SC accepts ₹ 10cr from TN towards sand import

The Supreme Court on Monday accepted the demand draft for ` 10.56 crore submitted by the Thoothukudi district collector towards 5,500 tons of imported sand lying at the port and asked the authorities to facilitate the government or the buyer to move the sand from the port.

On September 20, a bench headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur granted a week’s time to the state to deposit ` 11.71 crore towards the imported sand. When the deposit was not made within a week, the bench summoned district collector Sandeep Nanduri.

Accordingly, the collector was present in the court and he handed over the draft for ` 10.56 crore as against ` 11.71 crore.

The senior counsel for the state, Mukul Rohatgi, submitted that as there was some dispute regarding the quantity of sand lying at the port, an amount of ` 10.56 crore was being deposited. The balance amount, if any, could be deposited after six weeks after the sale of the sand. He wanted the court to pass orders to facilitate lifting of the sand from the port.

Balaji Srinivasan, the counsel for the importer, contested Mr Rohatgi’s claim and said a total of ` 12.30 crore was to be deposited. However, he agreed that the deposit being made would be subject to final assessment after the sale was affected.

The court, while posting the matter for further hearing after six weeks, directed the registry to realise the amount and keep it in 90 days deposit.