Maharashtra govt to use drones to curb illegal excavation: Bawankule

The Maharashtra government plans to enhance drone surveillance and bolster joint enforcement teams to tackle illegal excavation activities statewide said Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on WednesdayHe noted that excavation rackets which illegally extract sand soil and valuable minerals often involve influential individuals making it a complex task to dismantle them reported PTIA special task force has been set up to conduct largescale operations against these organised groupsAccording to PTI while replying in the Legislative Assembly to a question raised by BJPrsquos Samadhan Avtade regarding attacks on forest officials by illegal traffickers Bawankule said largescale illegal excavation was taking place in certain hilly areasDrone technology to reduce need for direct human interventionThe government has decided to intensify monitoring without direct human intervention by deploying drone surveillance systems he saidDrone mapping of affected villages will be undertaken and illegal excavation sites will be identified using geotagging and digital mapping tools including Google Maps integration the minister addedCalling the incidents ldquoseriousrdquo he said multiple cases have been registered Action under preventive detention laws has been initiated against some accused persons In several cases police have registered offences against sand smugglers and action has been taken in over a dozen criminal cases Bawankule said the news agency reportedStrict police action taken against attacks on officialsPolice have taken strict action in about ten cases involving attacks on government officials To prevent such incidents the Home Department has now directed that police protection must be provided before conducting raids ldquoOfficials have been instructed not to conduct raids alone Police personnel must accompany them before any action is takenrdquo he saidBawankule reiterated that a special task force has been formed to carry out largescale operations against illegal excavation rackets which involve organised networks and influential individuals and it may take time to completely dismantle themHe said that out of 12784 sandmining groups permissions of 953 groups have been revoked following a detailed review by senior officials including Environment Secretary Jaysing Bhoj and Additional Chief Secretary Vikas KhargeDue to stricter regulations and more transparent processes the state has recorded its highestever revenue from sand management he said adding that the list of cancelled sand groups would be tabled before the HouseGovernment working on revised sand policyThe government is working on a revised sand policy noting that the situation in the coastal Konkan region differs from the rest of the stateA separate approach for the coastal belt is under consideration and a new policy covering two minerals is expected to be introduced within the next month the minister added PTI reportedBawankule also referred to a matter in Bhandara district where the National Green Tribunal intervened in connection with survey work noting that a hearing involving a penalty of Rs 10 lakh is underwayReplying to a land acquisitionrelated question by MLA Rajendra Gavit Bawankule said the demarcation of land belonging to 205 farmers in Palghar district whose properties were acquired for major infrastructure projects will be completed within a month and compensation will also be paidThe land was acquired for the Surya Project Canal the MumbaiAhmedabad Bullet Train corridor and the Vadhvan Port Project he said reported PTIBawankule added that 467 farmers were initially affected but the number has now come down to 205 The remaining work will be completed within a month he assuredWith PTI inputs