Squads to curb illegal mining

Comprises officials from police, forest, mines and geology departments

These special teams, which have been set up at the village, taluk and district levels, will conduct joint operations.
Meeting of all the officials belonging to the four (police, forest, and mines and geology) departments in the district was held at Informatics Kendra in the City on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media persons after the meeting, Deputy Commissioner N Prabhakar said, “We have taken this step as we have received many complaints about illegal sand mining and stone quarrying in the district. Strict directions have been given to vigilance squads to put an end to illegal mining ,” he said.

“The Vigilance Squads, which comprise members of four different departments, should operate together. They should visit spots where illegal mining is taking place and put a stop to it, Prabhakar said.
“The officials have been informed to take action against only those who are mining sand for profit,” he added.

Designated places
The Deputy Commissioner said that sand mining can be carried out only at designated spots.
 “ Permit will be given for mining sand, at the rate of Rs 250 per load. We have received complaints that contractors who obtain permit once, also mine sand from different places. Criminal cases will be filed against such candidates,” he warned.
“Nearly 277 permit have been issued for stone quarrying. There are 300 applications seeking permit. The applications have been forwarded to Pollution Control Board and Geology Department for reviewing. Permit will be granted after deliberations are held on the recommendations forwarded by these departments,” he added.

Pressure
The Prabhakar expressing his constraints said that when a culprit is caught for illegal mining or quarrying they seek political help.
Immediately MLAs and other politician stop us from taking further action. Such incidents have off late increased, he added.

However, decision has been taken not to budge to any political pressure during crack down on illegal activities, he added. Zilla Panchayat CEO G V Rangarao, SP K P Puttuswamy, Assistant Commissioner Peddapaiah, tahsildars of all the taluk and officers from various department took part in the meeting.

Mining areas
The district administration has identified places where illegal quarrying and sand mining is being carried in the district. The taluk-wise list of the places are as follows.
Kolar taluk- Kurki, Horakere, Bettahosapura,Dhanamatnahalli, Talagunda, Bhuvanahalli, Kurugal,Perjernahalli, Kaluvamanjari, Chakasanahlli, S Agrahara, Kodikannuru, Toranahalli, Dinnuru and K B Hosahalli; Malur taluk- Haleyepalya, Hunsikunte, Kaderenahalli, Kempasandra, Janganahalli, Toranahalli and Dinnehalli; Mulbagal taluk- Avani, Devarayasamudra, Kadr-ipura,Obaladevara Betta, Agrahara, Nangali, Devarayasamudra, N Kurubarahalli, Duggasandra, Nagawara and Doddiganahalli; Bangarpet taluk-Betamangala, Kanamanahalli, Tongalakoppa and Mallasandra; Srinivaspur taluk- Kodihalli and Kodombari.