Nagpur: For quite some the major evasion of royalty on sand ferrying has been the cause of concern for the revenue department. Loads of trucks keep ferrying sand, giving an eyewash to the so called flying squad. Taking serious note of the situation, sleuths of Bhivapur crime branch checked as many as eight trucks allegedly ferrying sand without paying proper royalty. The vehicles were intercepted at Kargaon Fata Road and found to be ferrying sand worth more than Rs 1.50 lakh from rural areas.
Superintendent of police (Nagpur rural), Rakesh Ola, had reportedly sent his team for the operation. However five trucks reportedly showed receipts of royalty payment but the quantity of material was found in excess of what they paid for. On Tuesday too, Umred police had intercepted six trucks carrying sand illegally.
The Bhivapur police have booked drivers of these trucks under Section 379 of the IPC. Apart from seizing the sand, the trucks — collectively valued at Rs 2.02 crore — also have been confiscated.
The police have seized the sand and detained the trucks, costing Rs 65 lakh under sections 379 read with 109 of the IPC. Sources, however, wondered that despite installing GPS tracking systems in trucks and tippers transporting minerals, the district mining department has failed to curb illegal excavation and transportation of minerals, especially sand. Even the role of flying squad of Regional Transport Office has come under the scanner with rampant plying of overloaded trucks in the district.
