Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Apr 6: “A committee including the police has been formed to prevent illegal sand mining, do away with illegal sheds on the banks of lake and basic facilities connected to it,” said deputy commissioner (DC) Priyanka Mary Francis on Wednesday, April 5.

“I have passed orders to dismantle sheds erected for illegal sand mining and a time based committee has been set up to conduct raids involving police from Kundapur, Brahmavar and Byndoor,” she added.

DC was speaking in a meeting held at DC’s Court Hall to decide on prevention of illegal sand mining and transport. She ordered the officials to demolish boats and dredging machines using cranes and to work hand in hand with the concerned department.

DC stressed that strict action will be taken under CRPC section 144 and legal action will be taken for prevention of sand mining.

She also ordered for action under CRPC sections 110 and 107. “There is no provision for storing sand even in Patta land. Issue notices to those who store it. Let law be followed without giving room for breach of law,” she said.

“Verify the permit of lorries in instances when sand comes from outside the state. Conduct your duty on war footing”, she instructed.

Superintendent of police P K T Balakrishna, who was present in the meeting, said that the police department is prepared to extend all the necessary cooperation. “A squad has been formed and it should conduct the duties properly. A special team has been formed in Kundapur to defeat the sand mafia”, he said.

“There is no scope to only impose fine on sand lorries. Take action to cancel their permit,” DC said.

“PWD, KRIDL and Nirmithi will extend all support to prevent sand mining. The departments of geology, PWD and KRIDL are preparing to provide sand for the people in the district. A total of 60,000 tonnes of sand is available for construction work in the district. The requests for sand can be submitted to the assistant executive engineer at PWD, senior geology scientist, and executive engineer at KRIDL, Manipal,” she explained.

“Make sure that lorries transporting sand are installed GPS and record the work of staff at check posts through cameras. The quality of sand available in the department is of high quality”, she said.

Additional deputy commissioner Anuradha, assistant commissioner Shilpa Nag, all Tahsildars, ACF Achappa and officials of the department of geology were present.