Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Sep 30: A team under the leadership of assistant commissioner Madan Mohan has raided an area in Mudipu where illegal mining was in progress. The police also seized 28 lorries, five backhoe loaders and three excavators waiting to transport the mud to other states. Madan Mohan also instructed officials to register cases against the guilty on charges of illegal mining.

The raids were conducted under the leadership of AC Mohan on Wednesday morning at land in Fajir gram panchayat limits and Balepuni gram panchayat limits. The mining of mud has been in progress in the vicinity of Mudipu since the last year including the time of the lockdown.

Though reports of the loss of agricultural land, damage and pollution were published repeatedly in the media, neither the Bantwal tahsildar nor revenue department had taken any action. Residents of Mudipu have thanked the assistant commissioner who carried out the raid and undertook the responsibility of the department of environment.

The raids were conducted following the allegations of mining in other places by changing the survey number on the permit despite the cancellation of the lease.

There have been several posts in social media since the last month against illegal mud mining and urging the government officials to take steps to stop it. The posts stated that the call for tender by the Balepuni gram panchayat officer to level the land was illegal and that local panchayat officials have yielded to miners. The raid was conducted after several posts that were circulated on social media.