the goan I network
PERNEM
The flying squad of Mines and Geological Department on Wednesday confiscated 15 boats used to extract send from Terekhol River at Naikwada-Torsem. The action was taken by the squad in the morning and they also confiscated extracted sand admeasuring 80 cubic meter.
It was a joint operation conducted by Mines and Geological Department, Pernem Mamlatdar and Pernem Police. Mines department officers C Fernandes, Nitin Satoskar, Jitrendra Veluskar. Pernem Mamlatdar Rajesh Ajgaokar and Jayant Kamat took part in the raid.
Rampant extraction of sand was taking place at the Terekhol River even though activity was banned by Government. People (specifically farmers) in the proximity of the river bank had been complaining of the illegal extraction activity. Mines department began to take action against those involved in illegal extraction of sand from the past month. However, the boats used for illegal extraction were not sealed.
“Sand extraction has nowadays has become a big business and authorities are not ready to stop the illegal extraction. The action taken on Wednesday was done for the sake of it,” said a resident under the condition of anonymity. He demanded that Pernem police should start patrolling the river bank and make sure that the confiscated boats are not released.
