The city police and officials of the Department of Mines and Geology detected illegal sand extraction in the coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) at Ulaibettu on the banks of the Phalguni and seized 42 boats, five lorries, three earthmovers and other materials used for the same.
In a joint raid conducted on Saturday, they also found heaps of sand extracted illegally and stocked in a private jetty belonging to Raviraj, 45, of the same village. The officials found six persons engaged in illegal sand business in the area, a police release stated. It identified them as Yusuf, Issac, Asan, Sharief, all from Ulaibettu, and Vinay Shetty and Yashwant Alva.
In a separate operation on Saturday, the city police seized five lorries transporting sand to Kerala without licences. They were detected at Devipura near Talapady, Natekal and Kalkatta.
All the cases have been handed over to the Department of Mines and Geology for further action and investigation, the release stated.
Officials said they would issue notices to Raviraj and six others with regard to the seizure in Ulaibettu and also to owners of the five lorries seized at three different places. They will be given 30 days to reply. Following their reply, a decision will be taken to file a private complaint under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code for offences under the provisions of Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957.
The seized sand is being moved to the government’s stockyard in Ganjimath. The seized boats and other materials are being moved to a safe place, the officials said.
