Bengaluru: High drama prevailed at illegally run sand filter units on Gankallu Road in Banashankari 6th Stage when AAP members raided six such units along with the Kengeri police on Friday. The police have arrested four people in this connection.
AAP workers led by leader Ravikrishna Reddy and freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, alleged that the sand filter units were operating on government land. For many hours confusions prevailed as to which government agency owned the land.
Despite Bengaluru South Urban department officials’ visit, it was not clear who should take action. While BDA said that it had handed over the land to the BBMP after acquiring it and developing a layout, the BBMP maintained that the land was still not handed over to them. Finally, Urban DC V. Shankar visited the spot and ordered the demolition of six sand filtering units, spread over 12 acres.
Later, Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that mixed sand from villages like Kanakapura, Ramanagaram and other places were brought to the units for filtering. He alleged that the sand was being filtered using sewage flowing in the Raja Kaluve behind the units.
He said, “As per the government rules, using filter sand for construction activities is a violation. About 10 days ago Doreswamy was informed that illegal sanding filtering units were running on the city outskirts. On investigating further, it came to light that six sand filtering units were operating on Gankallu Road in Banashankari Sixth Stage.” Reddy said that it is suspected a businessman named Umesh was running one of the units.
At one of the units, it was seen that around 15 workers from Bihar had filtered at least 3 trucks of sand. They were staying in makeshift sheds set up around the filter units. The AAP workers alleged that over the past few months many filter units had mushroomed in these areas and blamed it on negligence of local BBMP officials and policemen for not taking action.
Reddy said, “We had heard about sand mafia in villages far from Bengaluru, but these units are operating right in the middle of the city, located at short distance from major landmarks like JSS College of Engineering, RNSIT College and Omkar Hills. How come the police was not aware of these illegal units? Either they must be hand-in-glove with the violators or they are not doing their job properly.”
He said the local residents were upset that despite filing a complaint with the Kengeri police no action was taken against these units. The Kengeri police have now seized the tractors, pump and other machinery used to treat sewage water to filter sand.
