News and pics: Silvester D' Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Nov 12: Revenue officials led by Kundapur Assistant Commissioner and Tahsildar conducted raids on illegal sand mining sheds across the coastal region on November 11 and vacated more than 150 sheds.

They have also recovered illegally stored sand and have handed it over to public works department.

Kundapur assistant commissioner S Ashwathi and Tahsildar M G Borker prepared a blueprint of the raids on Friday morning. They started their raids at 8 am accompanied by the geology department officer Mahadevappa, Public works department's Ramesh, Kundapur SI Nasir Hussain and more than 100 police force.

Illegal quarry owners initially opposed vacating their sheds. However, police under tight security went ahead with the operation. Illegally stored sand was recovered with Kundapur municipal council JCB. They continued their operation in Balkur, Gulvadi and Halnadi and recovered more than 15 units sand.

The raids were conducted as a warning. No cases have been registered against any individual. Boats and other assets were not seized. Assistant commissioner S Ashwathi said that cases will be booked if sand mining continues.