Done with liquor, officials after sand smugglers

Schragri

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posted on 12 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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HYDERABAD: After the ACB raids on liquor syndicates, it is now the turn of vigilance and enforcement authorities to crack the whip..

HYDERABAD: After the ACB raids on liquor syndicates, it is now the turn of vigilance and enforcement authorities to crack the whip on illegal sand mining which is rampant across the state. On Tuesday, they raided illegally operated sand reaches in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Karimnagar, Warangal, Mahaboobnagar, Kurnool, Anantapur, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts.
The wellcoordinated raids were conducted as a part of the efforts to curb illegal sand mining on river banks in the state. The offenders who were mining and transporting sand managed escape. Officials seized a number of vehicles and equipment used in sand smuggling.According to information reaching here, nine tractors were seized at Kodavatikallu of Chanarlapadu mandal in Krishna; two mechanical diggers and two trucks at Kothapally and Juvvalapalem sand reaches in Guntur; seven tractors at Vellampally near Gundlakamma project in Prakasam; 19 tractors at Kazipur in Karimnagar; seven trucks, three tractors and two diggers at Naguladinne and two other places in Nandavaram mandal of Kurnool; 10 trucks at Kothakota in Mahaboobnagar; and 20 tractors at Chityal in Warangal.

Vigilance teams also raided the sand reaches at Ankampalem, P Gannavaram, Korumilli, and Ayinavilli mandals in East Godavari, and Peravali mandal in West Godavari districts. The sand stocks were handed over to the revenue department, while the seized vehicles were handed over to police. Complaints were lodged against persons indulging in illegal sand mining at all the places.

Vigilance officials noticed sand stock at Pinagadi village near Bandemma temple of Pendurti mandal. According to them, the sand belonged to R Demudu of Pinagadi who would sell it to builders in Visakhapatnam. He does not have any licence. The sand was estimated to be 378 cubic meters (60 truck loads). The stock was handed over to revenue authorities.