100 trucks of illegal sand seized

BHOPAL: Two days ahead of hearing on a petition on illegal sand mining in Chambal sanctuary, over 100 truckloads of illegally mined sand, dumped near Nagra village in Morena district on Saturday, was seized.

"We have intensified search for illegal mining and illegal selling centres. This is just a tip of an iceberg," IG Chambal range D C Sagar told TOI.

State government has taken initiatives to curb illegal sand mining around Chambal sanctuary after a PIL was filed in Gwalior bench of the high court.

Besides giving a free hand to Chambal range IG for taking action, state government has sanctioned 10 companies of SAF in Morena district in the wake of HC directives.

As many as 20 mobile parties have also been constituted to curb illegal mining of sand. For effective action, 34 check-points have been set up and SAF jawans have been deployed. District collector Madan Kumar said, "More than 600 people involved in 23 cases of illegal mining since 2012 have been booked. 29 accused have been externed from the district. Besides, action against seven accused has been taken under National Security Act."

At a meeting of Task Force Committee, recently, it was decided that case will registered against landowner if sand is found piled up illegally at an open space