Department of Mines and Minerals caught unauthorized excavation and transportation of plain sand on the banks of Narmada in Sayer

Department of Mines and Minerals have installing GPS tracking system in Hitachi machines operating in leased areas for monitoring of unauthorized excavations. District Collector RB Barad has directed the Geologist's Office to take strict action against the elements involved in these activities by stopping unauthorized mining and transportation of minerals.

Based on that he team of Vadodara Mines and Minerals Department, in a sudden raid caught illegal excavation and transportation of plain sand minerals from Sayar village in Karjan taluka and recovered items worth about Rs 1 crore from the accused.

Giving details of the incident, geologist Nirav Barot said that Sagar alias Dineshchandra Champaklal Shah was found excavating and transporting plain sand minerals at this place without permission. A Hitachi machine, mechanical boat and a truck loaded with plain sand used in the unauthorized activity were seized from the spot. Approximately items worth Rs 1 crore were seized and kept at the Karjan outpost.

The Vadodara Department of Mines and Minerals has started utilizing technology to keep a close eye on unauthorized mining and transportation of minerals. As part of which, GPS tracking system has been installed for monitoring in Hitachi machines used in lease of Sayar Nareshwar area. Following the installation of this system in all Hitachi machines used in mining, it will be possible to identify and take legal action against lease holders who use unauthorized Hitachi machines in leased areas without this system.

As part of a pilot project in Sayar-Nareshwar area, GPS is one of the leading initiatives of good governance. Under this tracking system installation, 25 machines used in sand leases have been covered.

The investigation has revealed that Sagar alias Dineshchandra Champaklal Shah, who was involved in unauthorized mining and transportation of plain sand at Sayar, was carrying out such illegal activities within the limits of Vadodara district. He works as a sub-contractor of a leaseholder named Kalpesh Gemabhai Oad of Bharuch district and the aforesaid Kalpesh Odd has been fined heavily in the past for such unwanted activities, said geologist Nirav Barot.