Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, May 11: Officials of mines and geology department, on Saturday, raided a spot on the riverbank at Bandaru and Mundaje villages and confiscated sand found to have been illegally stored there.

After receiving complaints about the illegal stock of sand, the officials had conducted raids on three consecutive days. A total of 750 metric tonnes of sand valued at over Rs 2.3 lac was confiscated and the sand was provided to the public works department to undertake government works, the officials stated.

Former MLA warns of protest: Former MLA Vasanth Bangera warned of holding protest with the coming together of villagers if illegal sand mining in Mrityunjaya rivulet within Mundaje panchayat is not stopped. He said that the department is aware of this illegal activity but it is supporting influential persons. He said he will undertake protest if the mining is not stopped within 15 days.

Speaking to media after handing over a petition to tahsildar, Ganapati Shastri, on Saturday, Beltangady rural block Congress president Ranjan Gowda said that there is a provision to remove sand that accumulates in the plantations due to floods, and this provision is being misused by the illegal sand miners.