Despite the Green Tribunal ban on sand mining from the rivers, illegal mining of sand from the Indravati river, the lifeline of Bastar, is going on without any restriction.
According to sources, there are about 35-35 sand mining quarries in the river in the district. As such, illegal mining without licence and permission from environment department could disturb the contour of the Indravati river.
After the ban on sand mining, the mining department in the district has allegedly failed to stop illegal mining and taking benefit of the negligency of the department, the sand contractors not only committing excesses with the river and the environment, but sell the sand on exorbitant rates. According to the sources, this time, most of the illegal sand mining is being done at Mandar, Kakadighat and Kalcha areas. The mining department has seized two trucks and a tractor transporting sand last Monday.
After the ban, issuance of pit-pass to panchayats has been stopped. As such, without pit-pass sand is being supplied to cities illegally through trucks and tractors. Even after continuous illegal mining of sand, the mining department has not yet registered a single case of illegal mining, though 12 vehicles, transporting illegal sand, have been seized by the officials so far.
The sources said that on finding illegal transportation of sand, the accused has to furnish 10 times royalty. In addition to that on illegal mining, along with seizure of machineries, fine has to be paid on the basis of cubic meter of the excavated area. The district has 40 sand quarries, out of which 15 are in Bastar block, 12 in Bakavand block, 6 in lohandiguda and 4 in Jagadalpur. Of the total mines, 15 are in working condition from where illegal sand mining is going on continuously despite of the ban.
According to district mining officer RC Netam, the department has banned sand mining in the district, after the orders of Green Tribunal. After the ban about a dozen vehicles were seized transporting sand illegally. Raids on the sand mafia is continued and the department is keeping an eye on them, he added.