Authorities have warned of action against those involved in the trade

Sand-lifting equipment worth lakhs of rupees was seized recently

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

In focus: A file photo of sand being lifted from the bed of the Cauvery in Mysore region.

MYSORE: Unlawful sand mining has become active along the course of the Cauvery and Kapila in T. Narasipur taluk of Mysore district, after a brief lull.

Unabated excavation of sand, most of it illegal, to meet the requirements of the booming construction industry in Mysore and Bangalore has put the officials of the Department of Mines and Geology on their toes.

According to sources in the department, geologists, accompanied by the police, recently crackdown on illegal sand mining in several villages located on the banks of the rivers and seized sand-lifting equipment worth lakhs of rupees. Illegal sand mining had come to a halt after the joint operation, the sources said.

Cases

Cases were booked against 16 persons accused of illegally lifting sand from the restricted zones and also directly from the riverbed.

However, several sand-lifting equipment have resurfaced at the places where the joint operations were conducted.

“When a team of officials visited the sites along the course of the rivers on December 20, they found that people engaged in the trade had been making arrangements to resume illegal sand mining and putting up equipment,” the sources said.

The officials have warned of booking cases under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act 1957 and the IPC 379 if the equipment are not removed and unauthorised sand mining is not stopped immediately. Demand for sand is rising in cities such as Bangalore and Mysore owing to the phenomenal growth in the construction industry.

Following the ban on sand mining along the course of the Shimsha and the Cauvery in Mandya district, illegal mining has surfaced on the banks of the Cauvery in Mysore district.

Raids were conducted recently in villages of Nanjangud taluk following reports of illegal lifting of sand from the Kapila riverbed.

The district administration had banned sand mining for a specific period because of “Panchalinga Darshana” in the temple town of Talakadu in T. Narasipur taluk, in November 2006.

Permits

Though permits to mine sand were given only in Hiriyuru, Madapura, Kebbehundi and Musuvina Koppal villages, mining has been going on in the entire Talakad hobli. As many as 500 to 600 truckloads of sand are transported every day. Overloaded trucks have damaged roads in the area.

The sources said that large trenches dug in the middle of the riverbed to extract sand could alter the course of the river. Mining had to be done in a conservative manner without affecting the river and its ecosystem, they added.

Revenue

Illegal mining was depriving the Government of revenue.

The recent auction of 10 mining areas in Nanjangud taluk brought Rs. 2.15 crore as royalty to the Government, the sources said.

“On an average, over 50 truckloads of sand are extracted legally from each mining area in Talakad region. A truckload is sold for Rs. 5,000, with a profit margin of Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000,” a senior geologist said.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/01/stories/2008010157930300.htm