Surveillance stepped up to prevent sand smuggling across State border

Four special teams have been constituted, each under a Deputy Collector, to increase surveillance against sand smuggling across the Tamil Nadu border, into Karnataka.

Further, an additional eight revenue checkposts will be set up at key points to prevent sand smuggling.

Earlier, speaking to the media here, Collector T.P.Rajesh said that currently, there were about 23 points of entry into Karnataka.

While there were already six revenue checkposts at key points, the administration is on the verge of setting up eight more checkposts at designated points. In addition, the four special teams headed by a deputy collector will be accompanied by armed police patrols, Mr.Rajesh said.

According to the Collector, the objective was to put a ‘permanent end’ to sand smuggling.

Revenue officials and police have been mobilised to do the task. In the last three days, over 73 lorries were impounded for illegally carrying sand.

Further, three more persons are to be booked under the Goondas Act.

Crackdown

Taking a strong view on last week’s enmasse impounding of 257 sand trucks by Karnataka revenue officials at Athibelli post in Hosur, the administration had increased crackdown on sand smuggling in the past few days.

Continuing the crackdown, special committees, each headed by a deputy collector will monitor the surveillance mechanism. The administration has also cancelled the licences of the 257 sand trucks impounded last week.

The district administration has cancelled the licences of 257 sand trucks

that were impounded last week by Karnataka revenue officials

for illegally transporting sand