Warning From Collector
District Collector V. Palanikumar said steps would be taken to cancel truck permit and driving licence if trucks were caught attempting to smuggle sand to Kerala. In the wake of reports about sand smuggling, the Collector conducted a coordination meeting of officials from the revenue, transport, commercial taxes, police and forest departments for combating the sand smuggling racket. Mr. Palanikumar said according to GO MS No 158 of August 25, 2008 smuggling of sand to Kerala was banned. From August 25, 2008 to November 23, 2008, a total of 245 sand-laden trucks have been seized and after inquiry by Revenue Divisional Officers 220 trucks were imposed a fine of Rs. 60.78 lakh while proceedings were in progress in respect of 25 trucks.The Collector said temporary check posts were being established at Velandavazham in South and Veerappagoundanur in Pollachi. With enforcement measures such as levy of fine and detention of trucks till completion of proceedings not achieving the desired results, the Collector directed the Transport Department to cancel the permit and driving licence of the driver. He also asked the Police, Transport, Forest and Commercial Tax officials manning the check posts on the inter-State border to maintain vigil.
He also asked the police to deploy armed guards at these check posts to deter the criminals. Meanwhile, a truck carrying sand was rescued by a six-member gang from the Velandavazham check post early Tuesday. Following information, a team of officials led by Tahsildar South P. Subramanian chased the truck. The forest check post was informed about the truck smuggling sand approaching the inter-State border. The forest guard stopped the truck. A group of six persons led by Rajan Annachi came on motorcycles, overpowered the forest guard and rescued the truck. The forest guard lodged a complaint with the KG Chavadi police who secured Rajan.
The hunt for the truck, its driver and five others are on by a special team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police K. Kumarasamy. Within a few hours, the revenue team also seized another truck laden with sand. Mr. Subramanian said in the last 60 days as many as 69 trucks had been seized. Revenue officials on the field along the inter-State border said opening of revenue check posts near Kinathukkadavu, Velanthavazham in Coimbatore South and three more such check posts near Pollachi and sensitisation of the Transport, Police, Commercial Tax and Forest departments would help in combating sand smuggling.
