In 2014, the National Green Tribunal had directed the State government to devise a new sand mining policy, which was eventually prepared in 2015. Abdulali alleges that in spite of it, inaction on the part of the government continues.
Calling out the Maharashtra government on its inaction against illegal sand mining, environmentalist Sumaira Abdulali on Monday submitted photographs as proof of extensive illegal sand mining across Raigad District to the state environment ministry.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary and other top bureaucrats from the ministry, Abdulali expressed her concerns, and has sought strict action against illegal sand mining at sites close to the toll bridges. The illegal mining could undermine and damage the foundation of road and railway bridges making them unsafe, she said.
"I carried out site inspections from January 26 to February 1, and found that extensive illegal sand mining with suction pumps was going on at various locations including near the toll bridge at Mahad, and at the Dharamtar Creek next to Dharamtar Road Bridge," she said. Sand was stored in large quantities at all of these locations, she said.
"Maharashtra government has only allowed suction pumps to be used for specific purposes, under license and permissions. The ones used at Mahad, Dharamtar, and other locations have no permissions. Sand mining near bridges is also prohibited. Yet, these illegal activities are being carried out in broad daylight, threatening the environment and also the safety of lakhs of people, who use these bridges daily," said Abdulali
In 2014, the National Green Tribunal had directed the State government to devise a new sand mining policy, which was eventually prepared in 2015. Abdulali alleges that in spite of it, inaction on the part of the government continues.
Meanwhile, officials from the ministry claimed that action against a number of illegal sand mining sites and suction pumps was taken at Palgadh as well as Mahad recently. "We will definitely probe into these complaints," an official said.
The evidence collected by Abdulali includes images of sand craters at Kihim, suction pumps, sand heaps, trucks and cranes employed at various sites, and a video recording of a boat operating with a suction pump in the river at Mahad.
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