Sand mafia attacks collector during visit to flood-hit areas

BHARATPUR: Sand mafia threw stones at the vehicle of Dholpur district collector Neha Giri when she visited a flood-affected area on Saturday.

Giri said that when she went to Badpura village, she saw some river sand-laden trolleys. She asked villagers how the sand was being carried as it is banned and then called police to seize the trolleys. Villagers who are involved in illegal sand mining opposed the collector and pelted stones at her vehicle.

Dholpur SP Mridul Kachhawa said one person has been arrested and some trolleys have been seized. “The police action is still underway,” he said.

Responding to the attack, Giri said, “We have taken legal action against sand mafia and police officials have been directed to take action against them to stop illegal sand mining from Chambal river.”

Forty trucks and 20 tractors have also been seized recently and 25 members of the mining mafia have been taken into custody by the police. Illegal sand mining was being carried out in adjoining districts of Rajasthan’s Dholpur and Madhya Pradesh’s Morena. Despite a ban by the Supreme Court on sand mining in these states, large areas earmarked by banks of Chambal river, have been ravaged by sand mining.

Giri said the flood situation due to a swelling Chambal river in Dholpur is under control and maximum rescue teams have been sent back. Officials and relief teams are in touch with the people in flood-hit areas and basic necessities are being provided in camps and hospitals.

“All schools and anganwadi centers will be opened from next Monday,” said Giri. “The water level in the Chambal river has come down to 129.8 metre, which is below the danger mark. All rescue teams, including army teams, were directed to return while only one rescue team has been deployed in Rajakhera,” she said.

Forty-eight members of the State Disaster Response Force and 26 members of the National Disaster Response Force , and 85 army personnel were deployed in Dholpur to rescue stranded people and provide relief for flood-hit areas till September 18.

As many as 11,554 people of 4,420 families in 42 villages located in flood-hit areas were shifted to safe places; 4,580 litre kerosene oil is being given to 1097 families free without Aadhaar cards after electricity supply got disrupted, Giri said.

“10 teams of the electricity department were formed to restore electricity supply; 11 teams were formed to provide medical facilities to people. Sick people and pregnant women were shifted to hospitals,” she said. “Fodder is being provided for 24,431 big and 6,107 small cattle of villagers.”

CM Ashok Gehlot had made an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas on Monday and directed officials to keep watch on the situation to help people.