Department of Mines and Minerals caught unauthorized mining of plain clay minerals

Geologist's Office caught illegal excavation and transportation of plain clay minerals from government lands in Dodka village of Vadodara Taluka.

Geologist Nirav Barot said, the permit for excavation of clay minerals from this government land had expired, but there were reports of excavation being carried out by a sub-contractor of a private company.

The office team went to the spot in a private vehicle instead of a government vehicle to prevent unauthorized miners from being alerted. At the time, two Hitachi machines for excavation and two trucks loaded with plain clay minerals were seized. It was learned that illegal excavation of soil from here was being carried out by a sub-contractor for the construction of Vadodara-Mumbai Express Highway currently under construction.

Hitachi machines and trucks worth about Rs 65 lakh were seized during the investigation. Preliminary investigation revealed that it was being done by Piyush Patel from Ahmedabad, a sub-contractor of the L&T company. Appropriate legal action has been taken by the Department of Mines and Minerals.