A political clash broke out in Kanker district after Congress MLA Savitri Mandavi protested against the alleged illegal sand mining activity in the sand quarry area of Belwapani in Kanker in the late night. The legislator, along with party staff and community members, stayed on the scene for several hours to press for action on anyone that was not authorized to be doing excavation work.
Sand was being mined not only from authorised areas but also from un-authorised areas using heavy machinery, which is in violation of the norms of environment and government regulations, Mandavi has alleged. These continual complaints by local residents had not resulted in any constructive action, and she was forced to go and personally check on operations, she said.
During her visit, MLA found that there are approximately 14 vehicles in the area, including heavy excavation equipment. She said that she arrived at the scene about 7 p.m. but it wasn’t until after midnight that authorities arrived. After a while, officials were forced to take several vehicles and to use a chain to block an excavation machine.
Mandavi said that if the mining operations are allowed without proper monitoring, the sand shortage in the area could happen in the future, and it would be detrimental for the environment. She added that these activities must be done strictly following the approved guidelines and local tractor owners and small operators must be retained for employment.
The Congress chief also said that the slow pace of implementation indicated some involvement or protection by some administrative and government officials. She said locals and party members could hold a protest outside the police station if those responsible are not held accountable, and the laws of mining are not enforced.