Minister for Natural Resources, Minerals and Mines T. K. Prabhu has ordered suspension of operations of 23 quarries for violation of rules in Virudhunagar district.

After reviewing the functioning of the Department of Geology and Mines with officials here on Tuesday, Mr. Prabhu ordered the closure of units that had quarried minerals beyond the area permitted. The violation was detected when officials carried out a survey of 76 quarries in the district using drones.