Joint Committee says no excess sand mining in Devadurga taluk

A joint committee, which inspected sand mines in Devadurga Taluk in the Raichur district, has said that there is no excess sand mining in both the sand mines.

The committee in its report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that it has inspected two sand mining leases at Joladahadegi in Devadurga taluk, which faced allegations of excess removal of sand. However there were no such cases and imposition of environmental compensation does not arise, the report said.

After complaints on excess sand mining in mining leases at Joladahadegi in Devadurga taluk, the NGT Southern Bench has constituted a joint committee comprising Raichur Sub-division, Assistant Commissioner, officials of Mines and Geology and Pollution Control Board.

The committee also said that “in view of the least importance given by the lease owners on Environment Clearances (EC) compliances and to bring attention and importance on EC, the committee felt that a lump sum amount, say Rs 5 lakh may be imposed on all mines as Environmental compensation.”

The Committee also noted that the Director of Mines and Geology has imposed a penalty of Rs 35,35,000 on three other mines and collected Rs 16.11,200 for mining in encroachment areas outside the lease area.

The District Sand Committee has taken various actions on the defaulters including collecting penalty for using heavy machinery and filing FIR, The Directorate of Mines and Geology to take necessary action to collect the balance penalty, the report said.