Seven held, nearly 1,900 tonnes of illegally mined sand seized in multi-district crackdown

Seven people were arrested and nearly 1,900 metric tonnes of illegally mined sand along with several heavy vehicles were seized during coordinated raids conducted by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department across three districts in Telangana.

The surprise operations, carried out on March 9 and 10, targeted illegal sand mining and transportation activities in parts of Narayanpet district, Mahabubnagar district and Khammam district by teams from the Hyderabad City-2 unit and Warangal unit of the department.

During the operation, the teams detected large-scale illegal mining being carried out in streams including Ooka Chettu Vagu in the Koilsagar area and Munneru river. Approximately 1,875 metric tonnes of sand that had been excavated and stockpiled for transportation and sale was seized.

The teams also confiscated machinery and vehicles used in the illegal activity, including four excavators, two tippers and seven tractors.

According to officials, the enquiry revealed that organised groups were involved in illegal excavation and transport of sand without licences or permissions from the competent authorities. In Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar districts, the sand was excavated from stream beds using excavators and tractors fitted with suction pumps before being stockpiled in large quantities within the streams. Investigators also found that internal mud roads had been created to facilitate the movement of tippers and other vehicles to the mining sites.

In Khammam district, officials said sand was being excavated during night hours from Munneru river by local villagers and transported to Khammam town using tractors.

Based on complaints filed by the Vigilance and Enforcement teams, three cases were registered at Marikal police in Narayanpet, Devarakadra police in Mahabubnagar and Mudigonda police in Khammam. Officials said 13 people were identified as accused in the case, of whom seven have been apprehended so far.

The cases were registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act for offences including theft of government property, illegal mining and transportation of minerals without permits, and damage to public property.

The department has urged citizens to report any instances of illegal sand mining or misuse of government resources through its toll-free number 14432.