Mangalore, August 10, 2014

Nine vehicles were seized for allegedly extracting sand illegally from the Netravati at Adam Kudru near Ullal on Satuday.

They were booked for using heavy machinery to take out sand from the river bed and for illegally plying lorries without permit.

“They had permits to load the sand into two lorries, but when we came there, we found nine vehicles full of sand,” said Mangalore tahsildar Mohan Rao. Moreover, he said, though Rajesh Ferrao, who holds the license, had permission for manual excavation of sand, he was using two heavy earth machines.

Revenue department officials were headed towards the Kerala border to investigate a complaint, when they saw sand being extracted close to the Netravati Bridge on NH 66, said officials.

J.R. Lobo, Mangalore South MLA, who was attending a function nearby, was called to the scene after the miners complained of harassment.

Officials said after explaining the conditions of the licence, he urged them to take action according to the law.

Seven lorries and two heavy machinery equipment were handed over to the Ullal Police, who are investigating the case.

Courtesy: The Hindu