THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The redeployment of employees to the district-level mineral squads formed to detect irregularities including mining and illegal smuggling in quarries and to speed up action, will be done in the coming week. The district squad system is created by abolishing the three regional squads. Employees of the Regional Squad and other sections of Mining and Geology will be redeployed. The order will be issued this week.

The geologists in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakkad and Kannur districts and assistant geologists in other districts are in charge of the squad. 14 assistant geologists who have been recruited and completed their training have been appointed to the district squads.

A revised royalty on mined rock came into force. It has been increased to Rs 72 instead of Rs 24.

The Department of Mining and Geology has received around 100 applications for quarry licenses in various districts. A number of applications were returned due to insufficient documents.

630 - excavated quarries

20 - large quarries