Study on to identify illegal sand mines

The district administration of Birbhum has decided to conduct a study to identify illegal sand mines in the area, after which their operations will be stalled, said District Magistrate P Mohan Gandhi on Tuesday.

"We will soon conduct a study to point out the sand mines which are operating illegally. Those will be stopped immediately," Gandhi said.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed the district administration to take stringent steps against the operations of illegal sand mines. She had mentioned that illegal excavation of sand and coal should be stopped immediately.

The Chief Minister had further mentioned that those people, particularly traders who are involved in the illegal sand excavation and are destroying the peace of the locality, will face stern action.

Following the Chief Minister's instruction at the district review meeting held in Purba Burdwan recently, the administration had decided to install CCTVs in different areas and the police have begun frequent raids.

It may be recalled that two rival groups had involved in a clash in Birbhum district with bombs and guns killing at least eight people in April this year. Investigation later revealed that the two groups fought over possession of a dry river bed which was being used for excavating sand.

"There is no doubt that illegal excavation from sand mines is a major problem. Sometimes these excavations lead to a deadly fight among the groups. The police have already conducted several raids and arrested many people involved in these cases," said a district police source. The district police have got a tip-off and will conduct raids to arrest culprits involved in the illegal sand excavating racket, the source added.

According to a source, the mining operation within a distance of 5 kilometres of the river bed is not permitted. If miners excavate sand within 5 kilometres of the river bed, then it is a violation of the West Bengal Minor Minerals Rules, 2002. But this rule is violated in most of the cases in Birbhum — particularly the mining which is taking place on the banks of Mayurakshi and Ajay rivers.

The source also revealed that there are around 82 illegal sand mines in Birbhum in which 50-55 are located on the banks of Mayurakshi and Ajay. The sand which is excavated from these areas is sold across the state.