Illegalsandmining:72casesinmumbai SLIPPER FOUND HANGING FROM CRUCIFIX IN SANTACRUZ

Mumbai a hub to store illegal sand in Maha, say police; want more manpower and better tech to tackle it

Illegal sand mining is no longer restricted to Thane and Raigad districts. Suburban Mumbai reported 72 cases of illegal sand mining between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017. First information reports (FIRS) were filed in some cases but no arrests were made, according to data from the suburban collector’s office.

The district collector collected fines worth Rs3.4 crore in criminal cases and from royalty submitted for mining sand illegally.

Sand mining was reported from Versova, Madh, Maladmarve and Gorai while seizures were carried out by revenue officers from Kurla, Borivli and Andheri.

“Three types of violations have been observed over the past year: illegal excavation using machines, illegal transportation and illegal storage. While cases of excavation are very few, our officers have come across numerous instances in which sand is being brought into the city without permission,” said Deependra Singh Kushwa, Mumbai suburban collector.

He added, “Vehicles transporting sand have been seized and drivers and owners fined. Also, sand was found being stored illegally at various open plots within the suburbs, which were also seized.”

Versova residents said that they had seen sand being excavated near the jetty on five occasions this year. “At around 6am on most weekends, we see people at the jetty pulling out sand from boats using suction pipes. They come to the jetty from the creek areas and have been doing so for years,” said Versova resident Afroz Shah. “As soon as they see us cleaning the beach, they disperse immediately.”

In 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), western bench, banned sand mining in coastal regions of many states, including Maharashtra, saying it was harming the environment.

The ban was lifted in coastal districts in 2016 after the state government promised the NGT that it would ensure that mining did not affect the environment. However, various court orders from the Bombay high court and the Supreme Court and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notifications make it clear that sand mining using machines is prohibited across the country.

Officials from the Konkan divisional commissioner’s office said that sand was being brought to Mumbai by boat. “While cases of excavation are very few, Mumbai is one of the hubs to store sand in the state,” said Bhausaheb Dangade, Konkan deputy commissioner (revenue). “The lack of manpower in the Maharashtra Maritime Board and lack of vigilance from the local police is the reason why such violations are increasing.”

Meanwhile, environmental activists said that the state government needed pay more attention to the matter.

“It is frightening to know that we are unable to safeguard beaches within city limits. Since there’s hardly any manpower, some areas are inaccessible and locals are involved in this. We need to have a better system and use advanced technology to track the violators,” said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation.

Residents of Gaothan Lane in Santacruz woke up on Wednesday morning to find a a slipper hanging from a crucifix in their locality. This is the second such incident in the past two months.

Mildred Carlos, a resident o Gaothan Lane, who spotted the slipper first and informed the police, said, “The police came simply removed the slipper from the cross and went away. That is not the action we wanted them to take.”

Residents said that they were pained by the incident since i happened a day before Maundy Thursday, when Christians per form a ritual called ‘Washing o the Feet’. It commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles and is followed by Good Friday.

A statue of Mother Mary was allegedly damaged by unknown people in Kurla on February 19 leading to protests.

An FIR has been filed agains unidentified miscreants.

“We will interrogate local resi dents and check CCTV footage from the area. We will try to nab the miscreants as soon as possi ble,” said Shantanu Pawar, sen ior inspector of Santacruz police station.