Days after this newspaper exposed rampant sand mining in Kasadi river near Panvel, authorities swiftly moved to check the illegality. They have dug up trenches on roads leading to the sand mining site to stop movement of dumpers. “I personally thank the authorities concerned for taking corrective action against illegal mechanised sand dredging. The trenches on the kutcha roads to the river will surely prevent the transportation of the sand being illegally mined,” said environmentalist Nandakumar Pawar.

mid-day’s front-page report—Sand mafia caught plundering Panvel river in daylight—had highlighted the brazen malpractice during daytime. It had also said that Pawar had complained to the Chief Minister’s Office and the Mangrove Cell of the forest department for urgent action.