Karnataka takes more steps to check sand mining

In what may be a case of the fence eating the crop, a head constable who had been been accused of sand mining has been shifted out from Talkad, the sand town on the banks of the Cauvery following allegations of his involvement in sand mining, according to a release from Police Superintendent R Dileep.

Officials in Mysore district have lately stepped up mea-sures to check illegal sand mining and transportation which has been going on despite many efforts to curb the menace.

While a special police squad and two flying squads of the officers of Public Works Department with police security have been created and check posts erected, he said, explaining measures initiated in the second round of operations to curb illegal sand mining and transportation in the district.

 

The district police and PWD officials had discussed on May 31 the next round of steps to check rampant illegal activity that is causing irreparable damage to the river banks and beds in the district. In continuation of this meeting, a district-level meeting of Senior Geologist of Mines and Geology Department, PWD Executive Engineer and Regional Transport Officer (East), besides police and other related departments, was convened at the Police Superintendent’s office on June 2, wherein further measures were formulated.

It was decided, in the first step, to track sources of illegal sand mining and conduct joint operations against them. Permits issued to trucks to move legally exploited sand by the PWD should have validity for one day only and action should be launched against fake permits by conducting joint operations, it was decided.

It was also decided to take stern action against those who engaging in illegal sand mining and its transportation, violating the Karnataka Sand Policy 2011 and ensure enforcement of a minimum penalty of Rs 25,000 or two years’ jail term or both on them.

Another decision taken was to take stern action against staff involved in illegal mining or transporta-tion. In the background of this decision, Talakad Head Constable Shivarudrappa was transferred to K R Nagar pol-ice station from the sand town following repeated complaints against him. The police superintendent also ordered a departmental enquiry against him.