Now, Jal police to stop illegal mining, trap accused on water
PRAYAGRAJ: To end illegal sand mining at different mining hotspots in trans-Yamuna, the local administration has now decided to take the help of Jal police (cops on motorboats).
The decision to deploy the Jal police was made after it was observed that during police raids at river ghats, sand mafia escape on boats, officials said.
The mafia engage people to take out sand illegally from the mainstream of river despite the fact that such mining is banned by National Green Tribunal (NGT), officials said. Recently, fresh crackdown on illegal mining in trans Yamuna areas has been launched by the police. This includes stone and silica mining in Shankargarh and Meja areas. However, police said that during raids at ghats on Yamuna River to check illegal mining, the persons engaged in taking out sand from the river and transporting it in tractors and trucks, have been using boats to flee the ghats and avoid getting arrested.
To surround them even in the water, help of Jal Police personnel is being taken, officials said.
They pointed out that in the recent crackdown at ghats in Mohabbatganj and Baswar of trans-Yamuna, policemen on motorboats surrounded the ghats to stop sand mafias from taking away sand laden boats.
SP trans-Yamuna Saurabh Dixit said Jal police played an important role in keeping eye on movement of boats during raid at sand mining hotspots. “Administration will take help of Jal police as per the requirements during crackdown on illegal mining,” he added.