Party workers led by District President K Bharath and hobli President M D Manjaiah stopped four trucks, which was transporting more sand than the permitted load. They criticised the officials of the Mines and Geology Department for not taking initiatives to check the illegal mining.
Bharth said that contractors use machines to mine sand from the Hemavati river bed violating the rules of the Mines and Geology Department. Following this, large scale environmental issues are cropping up in the region. Land belong to farmers in the region is being eroded and bridges face the risk of damage, he explained.
Though the district administration issue permits trucks to carry nine tonnes of sand in a truck, contractors use bigger trucks and carry 20 - 30 tonnes flouting rules. Following this, roads and bridges in the region are facing the threat of destruction.
Similarly, possibilities of accidents too are increasing due to the increase in the number of trucks, he said. “The department, which do not take stringent action against illegal sand mining, cheat people by imposing minimum fine on violators,” he charged and warned that a mass protest will be organised if the district administration do not take the issue seriously.