Goa | Oct 01, 2015: The joint operation was conducted by Directorate of Mines and Geology and Captain of Ports (CoP) with the assistance of coastal police, Pernem and Mapusa police.

Acting on information, police raided two places on banks of River Chapora at Tariwaddo in Colvale where a boat was seized with two labourers and at Mahakhazan in Dhargalim where 12 labourers were arrested. The boats are now in possession of CoP.

The government is in the process of regularizing sand mining and has also identified sites for this. The environment clearance for manual sand extraction is expected to be granted next month.

Following the raid, angry sand extractors blocked seven Maharashtra-bound trucks laden with sand that had come from Kudal on Wednesday morning. Locals questioned how sand extraction and transportation from Maharashtra is allowed in Goa if it was illegal.

Mapusa police have attached all seven trucks and arrested seven drivers under Sections 38 and 68(3) of the Goa minor minerals act. They were later released on bail.

(Source: http://www.heraldgoa.in/)