Illegal sand mining detected at Adyar

The Mines and Geology officials unearthed illegal sand mining using the mechanised boat at Adyar.

The mining is being carried out amid the ban on sand mining imposed by the district administration. The authorities have seized 18 sand lorries along with sand and 25 tents that were used by labourers engaged in sand mining to stay, was destroyed.

Acting on a tip-off, the mines and geology deputy director Sumithra, Geologist Narasimhamurthy had conducted a raid on the banks of river Nethravathi ant Adyar on Monday evening and unearthed sand mining using 15 to 20 mechanised boats. On seeing the officials, the labourers engaged in sand mining reached to the other side of the river using mechanised boats and fled the spot.

The officials seized 18 lorries on Monday. As per the direction of the DC Sasikanth Senthil, the seized sand was handed over to the construction of new DC complex at Padil.

A team comprising Mangaluru Tahsildar Guruprasad, revenue, mines and geology and police inspected the site jointly on Tuesday. About 25 tents were found on a patta land at Adyar.

“Using earth mover, all the makeshift tents were demolished, and the equipments used to extract sand, were seized,” said Sumithra.