Sand extraction: Cops detain 5 trucks in Pernem

MAPUSA: Continuing the raids on illegal sand extraction, Pernem police detained five trucks allegedly carrying sand illegally at Bhalkhazan in Pernem on Wednesday night.
The trucks were taken to the Pernem police station for the further investigation.
While the efforts of the state government are on to legalize sand extraction by identifying the sand extraction points, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday has ordered a nationwide stay on sand mining on river beds without the environment ministry's clearance.
Bhalkhazan is a controversial sand extraction site where there was a law and order situation after the Pernem deputy collector was restrained from carrying out her duties by the sand mafia in March this year. Sand extraction at this site was getting beyond control and there were a lot of complaints about the illegality. The act of the sand extractors had led to the authorities tightening the screws on illegal sand extraction and detaining 148 canoes and 39 trucks. At Bhalkhazan, 81 canoes and 19 trucks were detained in the same month. Since then, a police force is being stationed at the Bhalkhazan and at Kiranpani - the two major sand extractions points in North Goa. Despite the presence of the police, the truck drivers, after hoodwinking them, tried to load sand in the trucks and transport it. After getting the information, a Pernem police team raided the site and seized the truck.
On Tuesday, five Bihar natives were arrested while extracting sand illegally in the Tiracol river at Parashte in Pernem by the police. With strict enforcement by the government, sand extraction has been completely banned in the Tiracol river since the past three months.