Distt admin, cops act against illegal excavation of sand


* Revenue and Police department staffers to keep round-the-clock vigil at six ghats where illegal excavation and transport of sand is suspected
* Externment action to be initiated against habitual offenders

Staff Reporter
Cracking the whip against sand mafia involved in illegal excavation and transportation of sand from ghats in Nagpur district, the administrations of Revenue Department and Police Department have decided to deploy staffers from both the departments to keep round-the-clock vigil on at least six ghats.
Taking serious cognisance of the attack on IPS probationary officer Gaurav Singh by sand mafia near Nayakund village a few days ago, District Magistrate Abhishek Krishna convened a meeting of senior officers of Revenue Department and Police Department on Tuesday. Superintendent of Police (Nagpur Rural) Dr Aarti Singh, Sub-Divisional Police Officers, Sub-Divisional Officers of Saoner, Ramtek, and Mouda were present prominently.
After the meeting, District Mining Officer Rajendragir Gosavi said that six sand ghats in the district were identified for vigil as there were complaints of illegal excavation and transportation of sand. These ghats include Pardi, Walnni, Sahuli, Tembhurdoh, Beena Sangam, and Neri. Some other ghats also will be under vigil, he said.
District Magistrate Abhishek Krishna told reporters that units of Revenue and Police Department staffers will be formed and deployed at the six identified sand ghats. “Besides, certain points on the roads to these sand ghats will be identified and width-bars will be placed there to prevent traffic of trucks to and fro. This will help greatly in reducing illegal transportation of sand,” he said. Further, the action of externment will be initiated against the habitual offenders and notorious elements.
It is learnt that the District Magistrate also asked the officers to ensure stringent action against illegal excavation and transporation of sand. The field-level staff and Talathi who fail to initiate due action at their levels will also face the music. According to official sources, illegal excavation of sand is a result of stay on auction of sand ghats. The fight between sand mafia lobbies also has resulted in various legal tangles. Further, owing to e-auction of sand in the previous years, many new players entered the sand excavation market and this disturbed many old players including sand mafias.
Besides, in case of Nagpur district only, State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) has imposed a condition that sand above 2 metres depth only should be excavated. As a result, of a total 77 sand ghats identified for auction, only 16 could qualify for auction. However, permission for auction of these ghats also is yet to be received. This has resulted in not only revenue loss for the Government but also illegal excavation and related issues. For the year 2014-15 also, the district admistration has identified 139 ghats for auction, but given the present situation of environmental clearance, these may not get permission from SEAC and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), said a source. 

01-07-14

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