All out war against illegal sand mining
*Flying squads to be deployed
*Large scale ecological damage
Disna MUDALIGE
Raids on illegal sand mining would be carried out with high frequency
and the law against the offenders would be strictly implemented to
prevent a possible rise in illegal sand mining with the relaxaing of
sand transport regulations, an Environment Ministry spokesman told the
Daily News yesterday.
He observed that the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) will
establish a flying squad shortly to nab illegal sand miners. He said
that new officers would be recruited to the GSMB for this. He noted that
sand mines would be constantly monitored and more officers would be
deployed towards this task with immediate effect.
He said that using backhoes, uncontrolled sand mining which would
lead to erosion in river banks and sea water intrusion, sand mining at
night are strictly prohibited, adding that maximum legal action would be
sought against such offenders.
He noted the sand prices would decline in the coming days as a result
of the cancellation of issuing sand transport permits. The spokesman
said this initiative was taken to break up the monopoly in the sand
transport sector which directly contributed for the exorbitant sand
prices. He observed that the charges of sand transport permit holders
have been very high, and this has been unfair for the ordinary people.
According to him a sand cube is being sold between Rs. 2,000 and Rs.
3,500 at the sand mines, even though the price of a cube is presently
about Rs 10,000 in the local market after adding the transport costs.
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