PONDA: Fearing action from the authorities concerned, mine owners rushed to the sites to allegedly ‘hide’ the machinery following media reports on illegal laterite mining at Mhaisal, Panchwadi.
All the machinery was moved away from the mines by Friday afternoon however, the land owners could get in trouble.
It may be recalled that for the past many months laterite was being mined at Mhaisal on a large scale and a large number of trees were allegedly felled for the same.
Despite the locals complaining to the authorities concerned there was no action initiated against those involved in the illegal mining. However, irked over the inaction by the authorities concerned the people stopped the illegal activity.
The locals alleged that the illegal laterite mining poses risk to the Mhaisal dam.
“Apart from laterite, there are also gravel mines operating in the area. The intentional blasts at these mines pose danger to the dam which the entire Shiroda village relies upon,” said a local.
