KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, July 25: Acting on a tip-off, a patrolling party seized two sand-laden Hywas on the NH-33 under Chowka thana area in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district about 40 km away from here at the unearthly hours on Tuesday.
Both the heavy vehicles were coming from Bundu in Ranchi district towards Jamshedpur carrying the sands clandestinely at about 2.00 am when the police intercepted them on the NH along Dirlong village. But the drivers of the vehicles managed to escape from the scene taking the advantage of darkness.
Interestingly, both the Hywas’ registration number was the same that is JH01-DH-5821, arousing suspicion.
The Chowka thana OC, Abhishek Pratap said that the drivers of the two Hyvas must be indulged in illegal mining and transportation of sands violating the directives of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
“We have seized both the heavy vehicles and are trying to detect the owners of the vehicles. Though the registration numbers were suspected to have been tampered with, from the initial investigation it is learned that the vehicles are owned by the same person who is a resident of Bundu, ” said the OC while talking to lagatar24.com.
It may be mentioned here that the lifting of sand from rivers remains banned during a period starting from June 15 to October 25 as per the directives of the NGT. But despite the restriction, the transport mafia continues to violate the NGT directives by lifting the sands from the river ghats.
The racket of clandestine sand-lifting and its transportation is rampant presently in and around the East Singhbhum and adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district.
