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Bangalore's illegal sand mining industry under scanner
Published on Thu, Nov 22, 2007 at 22:53, Updated on Thu, Nov 22, 2007 at 23:00 in Nation section
Tags: Sand Mining, Karnataka Lok Ayukta , Bangalore
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Bangalore: Bangalore's witnessing a construction boom like never before and one of the raw materials in demand is sand.
The city receives around 2,000 loads of sand every day from legal mines as against the demand for around 3,000 loads. And it's illegal sand mining from agricultural land that's filling the shortfall. However, this filtered sand is not the best substance to build buildings with.
“Filter sand should not be used for construction because it will not attain the required strength concrete is supposed to attain,” Chairman of Apartment Owners Association, A Balakrishna said.
The Lok Ayukta's office however has risen to the challenge. It has released videos of illegal mining activity across Bangalore.
The footage clearly shows farmers excavating sand from agricultural land, transporting the load to private land with borewell sets, and filtering the soil. They have evidence of such mining in over 19 villages in the Devanahalli taluk.
Though, the administration has responded to the video by issuing show cause notices to 19 officials, no arrests have been made so far.
“So far as controlling sand excavation is concerned, I've written to them, to identify areas which will not endanger environment and conservation. It's a cumulative responsibility of all officers,” Justice N Santosh Hegde from Lok Ayukta said.
The illegal sand mining industry in Bangalore has been silently thriving for years now. However, with the Lok Ayukta videos being available as documented proof, it might be a little difficult for the administration to turn a blind eye on it any longer.
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