Panel formed to curb illegal sand mining in Udupi dist

A committee comprising policeofficials has been formed by the Udupi district administration to check illegal sand mining, days after two top women officials were assaulted by illegal miners.
The panel would also take steps to remove unauthorised sheds and other materials stocked onriver banks.
The administration has also set a deadline to attach all illegal sheds, Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis toldreporters in nearby Udupi, after an emergency meeting to discuss steps to be taken against illegal sand extraction and transportation, yesterday.
She further said the operation would be carriedout with police assistance and boats and dredging machinerywould be seized using cranes.

On April 2, Francis was assaulted along with Assistant Commissioner Shilpa Nag at Kandlur in Udupi district during a raid on illegal sand mining.
District Superintendent of Police K T Balakrishna said the department wascommitted to co-operate with the district administration inits effort to crackdown on the sand mafia.