BHAWANIPATNA: The district administration has decided to take strong action against illegal sand mining rampant in Kalahandi.
In a crackdown on sand mafia earlier this week,the Dharmagarh administration seized 15 tractors and fined them Rs 76,000 for ferrying illegally mined sand from Hati river near Junagarh.
The tractors were intercepted by the administration at the Junagarh check gate, about 26 km from here. They had taken sand from Hati river bed and going to Junagarh.
Collector (Kalahandi) Bijoy Ketan Upadhyay said tehsildars and sub-collectors have been instructed to impose maximum fine and arrest the sand mafia at a meeting on Tuesday.
"The gangs are active during the early hours. A maximum fine of Rs 25,000 will be imposed by the tehsildar. Police will file FIR on theft charges and arrests will be made simultaneously. The 15 tractors seized on Monday will be charged with theft," the collector said. "We are carrying out regular raids on the sand mafia following a directive from the National Green Tribunal," he added.
Sand is being lifted from Hati river at Junagarh, Tel river at Kesinga, Sandul at Narla, Utei and Udanti at Madanpur Rampur, Ret river near Chhatikuda under Bhawanipatna block, Turkel river at Raj Kharira causing loss of crores of rupees to the revenue department.
Sources said the sand is not only used illegally in construction of private buildings, but also in government projects such as highways and bridges over rivers
Sub-collector Satyanarayan Das said few have taken permission and some have applied to the tehsil office to lift sand.
In a crackdown on sand mafia earlier this week,the Dharmagarh administration seized 15 tractors and fined them Rs 76,000 for ferrying illegally mined sand from Hati river near Junagarh.
The tractors were intercepted by the administration at the Junagarh check gate, about 26 km from here. They had taken sand from Hati river bed and going to Junagarh.
Collector (Kalahandi) Bijoy Ketan Upadhyay said tehsildars and sub-collectors have been instructed to impose maximum fine and arrest the sand mafia at a meeting on Tuesday.
"The gangs are active during the early hours. A maximum fine of Rs 25,000 will be imposed by the tehsildar. Police will file FIR on theft charges and arrests will be made simultaneously. The 15 tractors seized on Monday will be charged with theft," the collector said. "We are carrying out regular raids on the sand mafia following a directive from the National Green Tribunal," he added.
Sand is being lifted from Hati river at Junagarh, Tel river at Kesinga, Sandul at Narla, Utei and Udanti at Madanpur Rampur, Ret river near Chhatikuda under Bhawanipatna block, Turkel river at Raj Kharira causing loss of crores of rupees to the revenue department.
Sources said the sand is not only used illegally in construction of private buildings, but also in government projects such as highways and bridges over rivers
Sub-collector Satyanarayan Das said few have taken permission and some have applied to the tehsil office to lift sand.
No comments:
Post a Comment