ALAPPUZHA | Apr 17, 2015: The special team, constituted by the district administration, is continuing the district-wide raids to prevent conversion of wetlands and unauthorised sand mining.

According to District Collector N. Padmakumar, the team has registered 23 cases during raids that were conducted on April 13 and 14. These included 14 cases relating to paddy land conversion and nine cases pertaining to illegal mining of sand, silica and red stone. Mr. Padmakumar added that stringent action would be initiated against those responsible for such activities.

It was only recently that the squad had detected 110 similar cases on a single day. The officials have brought to light the misuse of exemptions that were granted in wetland conversion for the purpose of constructing houses. The Collector has also ordered the restoration of wetlands in cases where illegal reclamations were found.

The squad led by Deputy Collectors K.R. Chithradaran and P.A. Rajeswari were constituted to prevent violations of the Kerala Conversion of Paddy Land and Wetland Act and the Land Utilisation Act.

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