Team Herald
SANGUEM: Officials from the Department of Mines, Captain of Ports and Curchorem Police led by Sanguem Joint Mamlatdar Ana Rita Paes conducted a surprise raid on Wednesday at Sanvordem and seized a tipper truck, boat and other materials used in sand mining in Zuari River.
The raid was conducted following a complaint to the Mines Department against an individual for undertaking illegal sand mining in Zuari River. Acting on the complaint, the officials rushed to the site and seized a half-loaded Eicher Truck and a boat and other materials used in the illegal operation.
Incidentally, the lone targeted youth against whom the complaint was lodged sought to know from the officials as to why the department has seized only his materials despite there being other individuals who undertake illegal sand extraction activity in the village.
The officials are however reportedly learnt to have informed the youth of there being specific complaint against him and if any complaint is lodged against any other operators then they will conduct raid on others as well.
The truck and other material seized during the raid were handed over to the Curchorem Police after conducting the panchanama.
It is pertinent to note that since the closure of mining business in Goa, many unemployed youth from Sanvordem and other mining belt areas have ventured into sand mining and laterite stone business to earn their livelihood.
However, both the businesses being conducted illegally, the youth are facing raids from the government agencies as per the laws of the land.
Besides the Joint Mamlatdar, the raiding team comprised of Circle Inspector Pradeep Gaonkar, Conceicao Fernandes from Captain of Ports, PSI Curchorem Malik and others.
