Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 21: Alerted by a report carried by Daijiworld 24x7 TV channel, revenue officials conducted a raid on an illegal sand mining deck at Kalavinabagilu and Kudru areas in Balkur village in the taluk on Sunday December 20 and confiscated a truck that was found on the spot, apart from imposing a fine on the concerned.

Daijiworld 24x7 had aired a report accompanied by visuals about this illegal sand mining activity on Friday December 18. There have been allegations that illegal sand mining activity that is going on unbridled at Kaluvinabagilu an Kudru areas of Balkur have the tacit support of some bank officials and gram panchayat members, and that people with political clout were also involved with this activity. It is said that sand mining is carried out without permission even in cases where the licences have expired. There had been complaints about the removal of stone revetment erected by the side of the rivulet by the gram panchayat for smooth conduct of sand mining activity. The departments concerned had turned a deaf year to the goings on.

After Daijiworld 24x7 came out with scathing report on the goings on, tahsildar of the taluk Gayatri Nayak, passed on instruction to officials of revenue department to conduct spot inspection. The revenue officials, who raided the spot along with police personnel from the local station, found that illegal sand mining was going on. They confiscated at truck found on the spot and imposed fine of Rs 20,000.

Revenue inspector of the town, Narasimha Nayak, Balkur village accountant, Radhesh Shetty, village accountant, Somanna, and Kumbhashi village accountant, Jagadish, took part in the raid.

In the past, inland sand mining activity used to flourish. But, after the government issued order banning fresh water sand mining, sand mining in the region had receded. However, because of the apathy of the district and local administrations, sand mining has again picked up momentum in areas covered by Coastal Regulatory Zone rules in the recent past. Many people have set up illegal decks by resuming fresh water sand mining activity. Several of them claim to be in possession of valid licences for the activity.

There are allegations that some bank officials, gram panchayat members, and some government employees are hand in glove with this illegal sand mining activity. Although widespread resentment against this activity is evident, people's representatives and officials have been turning a blind eye towards this issue. This has given rise to suspicion about their sincerity and commitment to general welfare.

For example, a rivulet is being illegally encroached upon on the border of Kavarady and Balkur villages lying within the limits of Balkur gram panchayat limits in the taluk. Plans are afoot for systematic loot of natural resources. Sand miners have dug up gram panchayat road, carved out laterite stones out of the road, and heaped them inside the rivulet to facilitate encroachment of the rivulet. Even though these illegal businessmen have been transporting hundreds of loads of sand from the spot, both local administration and taluk administration have been claiming to be not having any information about the activity. This has given rise to a sense of resentment and impatience among the villagers.

Balkur gram panchayat had erected revetment bordering River Varahi flowing by the side of gram panchayat road, by using rock slabs. The sand miners have removed these revetments by using JCB to facilitate their mining activity. The locals say that when questioned, gram panchayat officials feign ignorance about this activity.

Encroachment of rivulets and rivers in the taluk has been plaguing villages across the length and breadth of the taluk. In Balkur village, ten to 15 additional sand mining decks are preparing to raise their ugly heads. Due to this activity, fear about risk of erosion generated from out of the additional force of water flowing in this river during monsoon season has been bothering the locals. They have urged both local and district administrations to step in immediately to stop this activity. If the departments and people's representatives remain stoic in the face of mounting problems, the citizens have threatened of undertaking strong stir against their callous attitude.