Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 8: A team of officials, acting under the instructions of Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC), Subodh Yadav, raided four illegal sand mining sites and took two into custody. Six trucks used to sand transportation were also confiscated in the operation.

A team led by the DC raided a spot where illegal sand mining was taking place at Ulaibettu in the outskirts of the city. The team saw that sand was illegally mined and transported from Phalguni river bed. The truck owners, sensing that a raid was about to occur, tried to dump the sand loade onto the truck, and speed away. Six trucks, from which sand was just then removed, were found. The DC ordered for the confiscation of these trucks. Equipments used for sand mining were also seized. The DC instructed policemen to register cases against the sand miners.

Raids were also conducted at Adyar near here, apart from Barimar and Polali in Bantwal taluk. Huge stocks of sand were found at two places. Mines and geology department deputy director, Ravindra, and Moodbidri tahsildar, Muralidhar, accompanied the DC.

The DC said that all sand mining licences in the district have stood cancelled since March 31 this year, and that illegal sand mining will never be allowed to be carried out under any circumstances.