JOIN USDYFI leader B K Imtiyaz alleged that district administration had joined hands with illegal sand mining mafia and had failed to ban sand mining in Uliyakudru island, in spite of submitting several memorandums to deputy commissioner.
The actions of the administration against the sand mafia are just an eye wash while people continue to suffer, he said.
Addressing mediapersons at DYFI office on Tuesday, he said that deputy commissioner had ordered against the sand mining in one-km range of the island, after a memorandum was submitted by villagers on August 28, 2014. However, it lasted only for a few days and the sand mining resumed in the area during night.
Tahsildar Mohan Rao decreased the ban limit in the area from one kilometre to 500 metres on March 28, 2015. This was done under the pressure from sand mafia. However, the residents of Uliyakudru were unaware of it, Imtiyaz said.
The CCTV cameras have not been installed in any check posts and the paint of mining boats has also not been changed though the deputy commissioner had promised to effect the same.
Now, the sand mining is being done at Pavoor, Harekala and Adyar without any fear. Though a complaint was given to Konaje police against dredging, police have seized two lorries and not the dredging machine. Sand is being stored in the name of concrete redimix at Baitar Malar and around 30 to 40 bags of sand are being transported to Kerala. The sand mining people charge between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 for one load of sand for local people, Imtiyaz added.
He demanded that district administration should stop sand from getting transported to other districts. The sand policy should be revised and sand rate should be fixed for the city. The CCTV cameras should be installed in all check posts. In case of transporting sand to other states, criminal case should be filed against them, he said.
“They start mining at 6 am and continue till 8 pm. We are facing problem even to anchor our boats because of the dredging work. The river bank has become a danger zone for children. Earlier, during summer we could have passed the river without the help of a boat. But now it is not possible,” said Lavina D’Souza, a resident of Uliyakudru.
DYFI leaders Santhosh Bajal, Rafeeq Harekala and others were present.