* 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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