Mangaluru: Alleging that illegal sand mining was rampant in villages like Muttur and Kulavoor near Mangaluru, the villagers have asked the Deputy Commissioner to conduct a proper inquiry and stop the menace.
Addressing reporters here on Monday, activist M Sharif Bikkod alleged that officials of the Mines and Geology department too were part of this illegal sand mining.
“No steps have been taken against those who are indulging in illegal sand mining in our village despite bringing it to the notice of officials. One of the officials scolded me and wanted me to be silent on this,” he alleged.
“Violating rules, sand is excavated using earthmovers and about 700-800 trucks take sand from the river in these villages. The water tank in the village has been damaged due to sand mining, the ground water level has decreased and people are facing a water crisis,” he alleged.
“When contacted officials claim that sand mining was legal and a gram panchayat member had won the bid and had a yard marked by the Public Works Department. But when we tried to investigate, we found no such yard. Instead the sand was stored in private land,” he alleged. He said, “We want the Deputy Commissioner to conduct an inquiry and stop this illegal sand mining.”
