A team of officials from the departments of Mines and Geology, Revenue, Police and others raided several places in Mangalore taluk and seized sand stored illegally.
The raids were conducted following complaints made to Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim about the steep rise in the price of sand used for construction work here. Mr. Ibrahim had also received reports about illegal transportation of sand to places in Kerala.
K.S. Nagendrappa, in-charge Deputy Director of Mines and Geology, said that 150 lorry loads of sand was seized in Kandavara village. The teams have also seized 250 lorry loads of sand in Mulur village, 300 lorry loads of sand in Badaga Ullepady and Mogru villages and 20 loads of sand in Gurupura village. They also seized two vehicles that were reportedly transporting sand and laterite stones, he said. Mr. Nagendrappa said that the department was still issuing temporary permits for sand extraction and transportation as orders were yet to be issued by the State government assigning this task to the Public Works Department.
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He said that the department was in the process of renewing permits for which it had asked permit holders to submit quarry plans and permission taken from the Ministry of Environment and Forest for sand extraction. During this period, permit holders had stocked sand, which, he said, was illegal.
Mr. Nagendrappa said that the sand that was in stock had been extracted by permit holders after their permits had expired. At a few places, sand stocked was reportedly extracted by permit holders before the period of expiry of permit. It was illegal to stock sand that had been extracted, he added.
The department has filed a complaint with the Bajpe police against seven persons who had temporary permits for sand extraction.
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They have been accused of offences under Sections 4(1)(a) and 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and under Section 379 (Theft) of Indian Penal Code, Dr. Nagendrappa said.