Ponda | Nov 23, 2017: A joint raid conducted by the directorate of mines, captain of ports, water resources department, Ponda sub-divisional magistrate and Ponda police on illegal sand extraction belt in Ponda taluka has seized about 310 CuM sand stacked along the riverside.
The raid was started between Volvoi and Betki villages. While the authorities had found 200 CuM extracted sand stored in 20 stacks near the river at Volvoi, about 110 CuM extracted sand stored in 16 stacks was seized from the Betki river bank. The total worth of seized sand is estimated to be Rs 3 lakh.
Both the sites have been sealed by the mines department. The owners of the sand have to seek the release of the property from the mines department by paying a fine. Otherwise, the department will auction it if nobody claims it. Ponda joint mamlatdar Abhir Hede who had participated in the raid on behalf of Ponda sub-divisional magistrate has claimed that some sand extractors have already applied for renewal of their licenses for sand extraction but their renewals are in process. The National Green Tribunal had earlier banned the minor minerals like sand extraction, but subsequently has released with certain conditions.
The state government has been allowing local residents to extract sand from the rivers in their area after following some procedures in place. The licenses are renewable every year and the people engaged in the sand extraction trade have already been applied for renewal and their applications are in process, sources said. Police sources have revealed that two policemen have deployed on each site to protect the stacks.
(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)