Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Feb 26: Officials of geology and mines department, along with revenue officials and the police, on Friday February 26 conducted raids on illegal sand mining sites at Kandlur, seized goods and demolished sheds erected for illegal sand mining by means of JCB machines.

As the licenses for sand mining in the coast had expired, the district administration had banned sand mining till they were renewed.

However, sand mining at Kandluru was going on unabated in violation of the official order. Therefore, officials with the help of the police conducted raids in the area, seized sand and the goods used for mining and handed them over to the local gram panchayats.

On December 12, 2015, the officials had raided the spot and registered cases in the police station against illegal sand mining. Despite this, mining has been going on without license, much to the ire of the locals.

Mahadevappa, an official from the department of mines and geology who led the raids speaking to reporters said, "The raids were conducted for the second time based on complaints received from locals. The sheds were demolished. If sand mining continues in the area even after this operation, suitable legal action will be taken based on previous FIR and instructions from the deputy commissioner."

Meanwhile, raids were also conducted at Halnadu, Gulvadi, Amparu, Kavradi and Basrur.