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

Kundapur, Nov 26: After the National Green Tribunal stayed sand extraction in Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) of Udupi district, PWD has been resorting to procurement of sand through tender process and selling the same. Illegal sand mining started raising its ugly head soon afterwards.

PWD with the help of other departments has been raiding illegal sand mining spots and seizing sand. Still, illegal sand mining is going on and sand gets transported at night by hoodwinking officials. Sand is being extracted also in Halnadu in the taluk.

On the night of Thursday November 24, villagers from Halnadu blocked movement of 12 trucks in whih sand was being illegally transported. They also held protest against this rampant violation of rules.

Villagers, it is said, had advance information about the sand transportation plan. They immediately took to streets and stopped 12 sand trucks. The police personnel of the town station here were then informed, after which the police personnel took possession of the trucks, besides registering cases.

The department had conducted raids at Balkur, Kandlur, Anagalli and several other places in the past, alleging illegal sand mining. However, surprisingly they had refrained from conducting raids in Halnadu. People believe that the department stayed away from Halnadu because some influential politicians are engaged in illegal sand mining here.