The Sanguem police have registered an FIR against Anand Gaonkar, Francis D’Costa and Richard Fernandes for allegedly carrying out illegal extraction of laterite stones from three pits at Naiquinim in Sanguem taluka without obtaining the required permissions.
According to police sources, the accused were found engaged in unauthorised quarrying activity in an area located barely 545 metres from the Netravalim Wildlife Sanctuary, which falls within the eco-sensitive zone.
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Authorities said the illegal operation not only violated mining and environmental regulations but also posed a serious threat to the fragile ecology surrounding the protected sanctuary.
The case has been registered under relevant sections of the law, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the extent of the illegal extraction and environmental damage caused.
