The Mysuru district police are employing new methods to counter illegal sand extraction and transportation in Nanjangud and T. Narsipur taluks.
Trenches, around six feet deep, had been dug on mud roads parallel to the riverbeds of the Cauvery and the Kapila to prevent vehicles from carrying illegally-extracted sand.
Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare told The Hindu that the trenches were being dug using earthmovers in parts of Nanjangud and T. Narsipur taluks where sand deposits had been located.
This is one of the methods employed to curb transportation of illegally-mined sand from interior roads to main roads.
“The miscreants may close the trenches and operate vehicles but we are sure the measure will check the menace to some extent,” he said.
Expert swimmers
Mr. Khare said expert swimmers are being hired to confiscate steel coracles used to illegally extract sand from the riverbeds.
“Sometimes, we are unable to seize the equipment used in sand extraction as the coracles are deliberately parked in the middle of the river. Therefore, local swimmers help us take possession of the equipment,” he said.
Coracles seized
The police raided sand extraction points in Nanjangud division on Friday and seized 36 steel coracles. Eleven steel coracles were seized from Moodahalli, two from Kallahalli, and 23 from Gargeshwari.
Ten truckloads of illegally-extracted sand were also seized from Moodahalli.
Strict enforcement
Mr. Khare said strict enforcement was in place against illegal sand extraction and transportation in the district.
He urged the public to inform the police of any incident of illegal sand extraction and transportation in their area by calling the control room on 08212444800.
The names of the informants would not be revealed and total confidentiality would be maintained, Mr. Khare said.
