RAJKOT: The geology and mining department has busted a racket of illegal sand mining worth Rs 7.15 crore in Halvad taluka of Morbi district. A complaint in this regard was registered at Halvad police station on Friday.
Geology and mining department supervisor G K Chandarana at Morbi registered the complaint. It says department officials had received several complaints about illegal sand mining in the Bramani riverbed in Chadadhra village after which they undertook a drone surveillance.
The complaint says no lease for sand mining had been issued but advertisements for granting of lease in 16 blocks in that riverbed through e-auction had been given. During surveillance, the officials found illegally excavated sand and also saw machineries like loader machine, excavator machine and four tractors.
The team raided the place and seized an excavator machine and kept it in police custody. Those engaged in the illegal activity escaped with other machineries. The team of officials visited the site on November 16 and measured the excavation by engaging surveyors and found that 2.11 lakh tonne of sand had been excavated there. According to a notification, the fine amount is Rs 240 per tonne for illegally excavated sand and accordingly, the total fine amount for 2.11 lakh tonne is Rs 5.07 crore.
The amount for environment damage calculated according to a government notification is Rs 2.08 crore. The FIR said the total amount (fine plus the environment damage) came to be Rs 7.15 crore, which means illegal sand mining worth Rs 7.15 crore took place at the site.
The department submitted video of drone surveillance, inquest prepared by their officials while raiding the spot, map showing illegal mining and other proof to the police. However, no accused has been named in the police complaint.
Geology and mining department supervisor G K Chandarana at Morbi registered the complaint. It says department officials had received several complaints about illegal sand mining in the Bramani riverbed in Chadadhra village after which they undertook a drone surveillance.
The complaint says no lease for sand mining had been issued but advertisements for granting of lease in 16 blocks in that riverbed through e-auction had been given. During surveillance, the officials found illegally excavated sand and also saw machineries like loader machine, excavator machine and four tractors.
The team raided the place and seized an excavator machine and kept it in police custody. Those engaged in the illegal activity escaped with other machineries. The team of officials visited the site on November 16 and measured the excavation by engaging surveyors and found that 2.11 lakh tonne of sand had been excavated there. According to a notification, the fine amount is Rs 240 per tonne for illegally excavated sand and accordingly, the total fine amount for 2.11 lakh tonne is Rs 5.07 crore.
The amount for environment damage calculated according to a government notification is Rs 2.08 crore. The FIR said the total amount (fine plus the environment damage) came to be Rs 7.15 crore, which means illegal sand mining worth Rs 7.15 crore took place at the site.
The department submitted video of drone surveillance, inquest prepared by their officials while raiding the spot, map showing illegal mining and other proof to the police. However, no accused has been named in the police complaint.
