PONDA: Department of Mines and Geology, Dharbandora Taluka Mamlatdar Laxmikant Kurtikar and Collem police raided an illegal laterite quarry at Thatod, Dharbandora, in a joint operation on Sunday. But surprisingly no machinery was found at the venue. But just a few hours after the raid, the operations resumed, according to the locals.
The mamlatdar had filed a complaint with Collem police station after the issue was frequently raised by the locals.
It can be recalled that illegal laterite mining operations were rampant in Dharbandora for the last many years. A local youth had committed suicide in one of the abandoned quarry last month, making it the second such tragic death over the past 10 years. This had caused severe backlash from the locals, who had accused the authorities concerned of turning a Nelson’s eye towards the illegal activities. Reliable sources have claimed that power tillers and generators were hidden in the nearby jungle before the arrival of the officials.
Some months back the officials, mamlatdar and the police had seized some of the machinery from the same quarry and had also arrested four persons including mine owner and the labourers. Locals have expressed surprise over the fact that despite raiding the same quarry, this time the police have filed a case against unidentified person.
