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Irregularity in earth mining detected, equipment seized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KOCHI | Apr 10, 2015: A team of Revenue Department officials seized two earth-moving equipment and five tipper lorries on Thursday after it was found that they were being used to remove and transport earth with the help of permit papers that had the details in ‘magic’ ink.

 

A senior official of the department said “magic” ink vanished when heated under the sun or with the help of a cigarette lighter. It appeared that the geologist concerned had issued blank passes on which details like the name of the licensee, area for mining, date and timing were written in ‘magic’ ink.

 

The official said he suspected that these passes were repeatedly used. Action had been recommended against the geologist, who allegedly signed blank passes for the earth mining operations, said the official.

 

The official said it was the first time that earth mining passes with the details written in “magic” ink had been detected. He said though the officials tried to seize one of the pens from a worker he ran away. Later, the team of Revenue officials searched for the ‘magic’ pen on the premises but failed to recover any. The incident occurred at a site near Pulikyamala, Mulamthuruthy village, near Kochi.

 

The officials, who reached the site of the earth mining operations in casuals and in unmarked vehicles, also found that earth was being removed from more area than it was permitted.

 

 

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)