23 trucks detained for transporting sand illegally

In the first of its kind action taken to curb the illegal ferrying ofsand, the Pune tehsil officials caught 23 trucks carrying crushed sand, soil, murum, macadams and stone yesterday.

Dirt business: The trucks were halted at Wanowrie while they were entering the city

Tehsildar Minal Kalaskar carried out the action and the trucks were stopped at Fatima Nagar Chowk in Wanowrie in the early morning. A fine of Rs 4.72 lakh was slapped on the owners of the trucks under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Act, 1947.

"We have been aware of the increasing illegal transportation of sand in various areas of city. Accordingly, yesterday morning we went to Wanowrie where the activity has increased in the last few days," said Kalaskar.

Tehsildar Minal Kalaskar

She further informed that after reaching Fatima Nagar Chowk, she noticed 12 trucks laden with murum, stone, and macadams did not have the requisite licenses to carry the material.

Police officials inspect the vehicles

"There was no need to check whether the trucks carrying sand had transportation licence, as sand mining is banned in the state," said Kalaskar. The trucks were entering the city from the Pune-Solapur Highway. Kalaskar said that the trucks may have been loaded in Daund or Indapur and were on their way to provide the materials to the some construction sites in the city.

"The others tehsils frequently take action against illegal sand transportation. The Pune tehsil has, however, for the first time conducted a raid to curb the rampant illegal sand transportation in the city," said Kalaskar.u00a0