Udupi : A committee has been formed comprising the police to evacuate shelters and other infrastructure near river banks all over the district in an attempt to prevent illegal sand mining activities in the district.

Speaking at a meeting held to discuss the measures to be initiated to prevent illegal sand mining in the district, Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said that the illegal sheds would be cleared. A deadline has been set for the work initiated along with the police force from Brahmavar, Kundapur and Byndoor.

The deputy commissioner directed the officials concerned to confiscate the boats, drudging machines and cranes used for sand extraction. She also called for proper coordination among all the departments involved. She reiterated that illegal sand mining would be stopped by taking stern measures – even by clamping CrPC Section 144 in the district.

Stating that instructions have been issued to take stringent action under CrPC Sections 110 and 107 against the illegal sand miners, the officer said that there is no scope for illegal sand accumulation in the patta land. Notices would be issued for those who have stored sand in their land.

She instructed the officials to strictly follow the legal procedures. “The sand transported from other states should be verified for the legal permits. The department officials concerned should work on war footing to stop illegal sand mining activities in the district within a week. The RTO should stop fining the lorries that transport the illegal sand. Instead the officers should cancel the permits of the lorries that carry the sand,” she ordered.

To overcome the shortage of sand in the district, the PWD, the Mines and Geology Department and the KRIDL have ensured supply of sufficient quantity of sand. Nearly 60,000 tons of sand is available at present in the district.

She also ordered that GPS should be compulsorily fitted into the lorries that carry out sand transport legally. “The quality of sand that is available is up to the mark. People concerned should check whether the officials posted at the check posts are regular on duty,” she added.
Police Superintendent K T Balakrishna said a squad has been recruited and a separate police team in Kundapur has been formed to look into the illegal sand mining activities and sand mafia in the taluk. The police will extend all support to the district administration in its fight against sand mafia, he promised.