Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwall (SP)

Bantwal, Feb 4: In connection with the seizure of 11 boats, a tipper and stock of illegally mined sand from the bank of River Netravati at Nandavara in Munnur village in the taluk recently, the revenue department has levied a fine of Rs 1.73 lac on the concerned, said Mangaluru assistant commissioner, Dr Ashok.

The assistant commissioner had raided the stretch of the river bank located between Netravati Bridge on old national highway at Panemangalore and the new bridge. He had also seized 11 boats worth Rs 11.30 lac. Sand mined from here was being transported to Bengaluru and Kasargod. Sand was mined with the help of machines from the river.

'The boats have been fined at the rate of Rs 11,000 each. The fine imposed on tipper happens to be Rs 5,000. Rs 47,000 has been levied for illegal storage of sand, he explained. At the time of imposing this fine, villagers demanded for auctioning of the sand instead of imposing fine, but the officials convinced them of the justification of the fine, in the presence of police.

Tahsildar, Muhammed Issac, said that the sand mining, being conducted between railway and highway bridges, had the potential of endangering these bridges. The villagers had complained that their agricultural land was damaged due to the mining activity.

The assistant commissioner has warned the concerned against conducting sand mining near bridges and using machinery for mining sand from river.