Mangalore, August 9th: On August 9th, Saturday morning raid was conducted at the sand mining area at Adam Kudru on the banks of River Netravati near Ullal. Eight trucks and bulldozer along with stock of sand found there was seized. Raid was conducted by a crew comprising Assistant Aommissioner, Dr Ashok, and Tahsildar of the taluk, Mohan Rao. All the seized vehicles are handed over to Ullal cops.
The crew noted that excavators had been used for loading sand into the trucks, but their usage had been banned. The sand miners argued that JCBs were used only for loading sand into the trucks which is allowed as per rules but it was not used for sand mining. The officials found that only one among the nine trucks had a valid license, while the others were unlicensed.
After a long gap because of heavy rains, sand mining had begun only this day exclaimed the sand miners. The seizure of bull dozers along with trucks was opposed by locals even. It was not a right act of the officials to include excavators along with trucks while seizing said Mr Rajesh Ferrao, who holds licence for sand mining. . Pointing out that the officials have accused the sand miners of using bulldozers for sand mining, he said these machines could not be used for sand mining, as river was deeper at that place. He claimed that the sand brought ashore by boats were loaded using these machines.
When the Tahsildar insisted that sand was also mined by some unlicensed, several said they had applied for licence long back, and were yet to get the same.
MLA, Mr J R Lobo, who had been to Adam Kudru to take part in pipeline inaugural function; visited the spot and listened to the problems faced by locals. The officials were advised to penalise the erring trucks functioning without licences on the spot.
Ullal station house officer, Mr Ramesh Hanapura, and other cops were present in the spot.
By : Thangamma.M.M