In a huge raid, officials seized 144 lorries and seven earth moving machines for illegally quarrying sand in the Krishna river on Saturday.
On a tip-off that some persons were transporting sand illegally from the river, Mines and Geology, Police, Revenue and Irrigation Department officials conducted raids in Papavinasanam in Ghantasala mandal since the wee hours and seized the vehicles. Police were deployed in the village to prevent untoward incidents, Avanigadda DSP K. Chamundeswari said.
Criminal cases
Machilipatnam Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) I. Venkateswara Reddy, who visited the place, said that criminal cases would be booked against contractors who were illegally quarrying sand. The seized vehicles along with the material would be produced in court, he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident two persons, who were transporting sand illegally, tried to drive the sand-laden tractor over Jaggaiahpet MRO V. Madan Mohan when the officer and his staff tried to intercept the vehicle at Vedadri village in the district on Friday. Following a complaint by the MRO, the Chillakallu police on Saturday arrested tractor owner Gugulothu Taveriya and driver Banavath Rambabu.
Cases have been booked against the accused under Sections. 307 and 353 of IPC, said SI S.P. Veeraiah Goud.
