Hi-tech way to check illegal sand mining

Taking stern measures to check illegal sand quarrying, the district authorities have set up seven new check-posts and have installed web cameras at Talakad and Bannur on the banks of the river Cauvery in Mysore district.

Deputy commissioner Harsh Gupta said on Tuesday, 11 persons obtained permits at auctions for extracting 14,000 tonnes of sand. Steps were being taken to meet the sand requirements of Mysore city.

Checking at the check-posts in the district have been tightened to check illegal movement of sand. A tight bandobust was made on the roads leading to Bangalore on which sand is transported, he said, adding that directions had been given to officials to act sternly against those who violate the restrictions.

His statement followed the ongoing agitation by the Mysore City Lorry Owners’ Association stopping the transport of construction materials. They are demanding among other things withdrawal of criminal cases filed against their colleagues, conduct of sand auctioning and action against illegal quarry operators, and not the lorry drivers.

Illegal sand exploitation is going on unabated on the banks of the Cauvery river in the district. Allegations and counter-allegations of illegal extraction and protests by the affected villagers demanding action against illegal sand exploitation on the banks of the Cauvery, the Kabini and Lakshmanatheertha are heard often. There has also been mounting pressure from environmentalists demanding protection of the environment, life and property of the villagers in these areas.

The action initiated by the authorities had a lim-ited effect as it was mostly short term in nature. Soon after taking charge as the new deputy commissioner, Harsh Gupta set up a special task force comprising of officials of the mines and geology, transport, police and revenue officials to check illegal sand quarrying and transportation.

Check-posts operating 24 hours were set up at Megalapura and Talakad equip-ped with wireless and digital cameras to record the movement of vehicles. They were manned by the special task force.

After the initiation of these measures, the local authorities began acting firmly. A fortnight ago, they raided the sand extraction quarries on the river banks and seized about 500 lorry loads of sand.

According to association president Kodanadaram, the officials arrested seven truck drivers and four truck owners on charges of illegal sand extraction and booked cases against them. They were released later.

After launching the agitation, the truck operators met the deputy commissioner and appealed to him to conduct sand auctioning and take action against illegal quarry operators and not the lorry drivers.

Explaining the position, Gupta said on Tuesday permits to transport sand were given to only those to whom permits to extract sand were given.

According to a court direction, no boats or machines can be used for sand extraction.Under these circumstances, those who violated the rules and extracted and transported sand illegally or extracted sand beyond the limit imposed would face stern action, he warned.