Collects samples of piled up soil
TEAM HERALD
VALPOI: Mines Department Monday inspected a site at Advoi, Sattari and collected samples of excavated and piled up soil which sources say could be manganese, officials said.
There is an apex court ban on mining activities including transportation and export, let alone excavation. The Valpoi police said that the attached materials could be about three truckloads and confirmed that they had asked the department to investigate into complaints of manual excavation taking place.
The material was dumped in a private property at Advoi, about 2 kms from the main road.
On Sunday afternoon, local Panch Nitin Shivdekar was alerted about some extraction activities in the area and went to the site. When confronted by the panch, the owner claimed the material excavated from his property was to be used for the construction of a road in his private property.
In the ensuing discussion, the panch was allegedly abused and assaulted by the owner.
Shivdekar then notified Valpoi Police about the incident. The panch had claimed that three trucks were stationed at the spot. However, the trucks had disappeared before police could reach the spot.
Then, Valpoi police intimated the mines department about the activities at Advoi and intensified patrolling in the area.
Valpoi Police Inspector Ramesh Gaonkar confirmed that a team from the mines department had visited Advoi and had attached dumped material.
“The mining officials measured the dumped material and collected samples of the mud and material from the pit to ascertain the nature of the extracted material,” PI Gaonkar told Herald.
PI Gaonkar also said that a case against the owner and those involved in the alleged extraction will be filed as soon as Mines Department gives them a report about the illegal activities.
“The materials attached by the officials could be about three truckloads in quantity,” he added.
