Chennai, Aug 13 (IANS): The Tamil Nadu government was Tuesday urged not to delay taking action against illegal mining of beach sand minerals in Tuticorin district.

The Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) party said the setting up of a special team in April 2012 to inspect and verify illegal sand mining in the district was delayed.

MMK leader and legislator M.H. Jawahirullah said in statement that based on reports of the special team and Tuticorin Collector Ashish Kumar, the state government "should file a case against anti-social elements that plunder the nation's wealth".

Jawahirullah said the "plunder of beach sand minerals results in sea erosion and impacts the livelihood of the fishermen in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts".

The Tamil Nadu government Friday ordered stopping mining of beach sand minerals in Tuticorin district by six leasees and constituted a multi-departmental committee to inspect and verify whether any illicit mining activity was being done.