PONDA: In a significant move against illegal laterite mining, the Collem police have registered a case against a duo for operating an illegal quarry in Dharbandora.
The duo, Rajendra Babalo Prabhudesai and Satyawan Babalo Prabhudesai of Sukatli-Mollem, are the owners of land in Survey No 91/4 in Mollem panchayat area of Dharbandoda taluka, where the illegal activities were going on. A formal complaint has been filed by Suraj Kalangutkar, assistant director of the mining department, alleging the illegal stone cutting and theft of property valued at around Rs 10 lakh was happening at the laterite mine.
The Mines Department officials, along with Collem police, conducted a raid on the closed laterite mine at Sangod, on December 7. It was discovered that unauthorized cuttings had taken place on private land. The officials conducted a panchanama and filed a complaint against the landowners.
The mines department had raided a closed laterite mine in Thatod-Dharbandoda last month. An official from the mines department had filed a complaint against an unknown person. Subsequently, a raid on the illegal mine at Sangod has intensified the pressure on illegal mining operators, prompting some to seek political intervention.
