Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (RJP)
Bantwal, Apr 15: The investigation, relating to the case of sand transported in railway wagons, has not begun yet. The reason cited for the delay is, that Thursday April 14 was a public holiday.
Officials of mines and geology department with the help of police had seized six wagons of a goods train that were being used to transport sand without permission on Wednesday April 13 at B C Road. The consignment of 300 metric tonnes of sand in six wagons was being taken from Mangaluru to Sakleshpur or Bengaluru.
Senior divisional railway manager (DRM) had said on Wednesday that he was not aware of any permission given by the railway department to carry sand. Initial report
said that assistant engineer of railway of Mysuru division was asked to submit a report on the incident.
Rumours surfaced later saying that the sand was emptied from the wagons, but the mines and geology department and police said the news was false.
Some sources said that the sand was bought by railway department only for the purpose of platform being built at Yedakumeri in Sakleshpur taluk. A similar consignment was taken for the same purpose 3 weeks back, they said. But the railway department has not responded to this news yet.
It is now claimed that the consignment, which was ready, was supposed to be transported on Monday but had to be postponed till Wednesday when it was intercepted. The raid was made possible because of the phone call received from concerned citizens who opted to remain anonymous.
Assistant divisional engineer from Civil engineering department GopaKumar was in Mangaluru on Thursday but he did not visit the site as senior officials were not available due to public holiday.
But the questions being asked now are, why the railway is delaying the investigation of such a serious matter and how can anybody dare to transport sand in railway wagons without the knowledge of railway officials. It should be borne in mind that loading sand in railway wagons is not a simple task.
Some residents in Farangipet said that sand is being collected in the vicinity for the same purpose and a complaint about it remains unaddressed.