Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 3: Deputy director in the department of mines and geology, Sumithra S, has been suspended. It is said that she paid the price for bending to political lobbying and releasing seized sand trucks.

It is said that commonly, as and when trucks are confiscated for illegal sand extraction and transportation, the concerned used to establish contact with political leaders and bring pressure on the officials to release them. In some cases, letter was procured in the letter heads of religious centres, certifying that sand was needed for religious programmes. In some cases, top leaders also called the officials directly and asked them to release the seized vehicles, it is said.

Sumithra S reportedly released the sand trucks which had been seized, without registering any cases against the owners.

From June 1 last year, sand extraction had been completely suspended pending issuance of new licences. During this period, various departments conducted raids against illegal sand operators. The officials had,during this period, seized 15 sand trucks. The district administration had instructed the officials to register cases against illegal sand trucks and to take further steps as per rules. But, as per information, under political pressure, these trucks were handed back to their owners by merely collecting fine, without registering cases, by citing that the same was needed for religious purpose.

During January this year, deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Sasikanth Senthil, came to know about the fact that trucks were released without registration of cases. He immediately sent a report to the director in the department of mines and geology, asking the officials to hold enquiry and take steps as may be necessary. The mines and geology department, which has begun probe against Sumithra, has kept her under suspension now.