Revenue dept seizes sand, boulders, chips loaded on 15 trucks, worth over Rs 1 crore, in Ratnagiri dist

Navi Mumbai:

Sand

, boulders and chips loaded on 15 trucks, together worth over Rs

1 crore

, were seized by revenue officials of

Ratnagiri

district in a two-drive on Sunday and Monday at various points from Sangameswar to Devrukh.

“A 10-member group divided into four teams were posted in strategic locations where vehicles slow down,” Sangameswar tehsildar Sandip Kadam said.

The squad used private bikes instead of government vehicles to avoid being identified by the mafia.

A Sangameswar tehsil official, U S Mohite, said the squad has confiscated 11 trucks of sand and 2 trucks each of boulders and chips collectively worth Rs 14lakh. “Over 22 brass sand, 4.5 brass boulders and 4 brass chips were seized in the drive. The cost of all the seized items along with the penalty amounts to Rs 14 lakh. The collective worth of trucks seized, sand, boulders, chips and penalty stands over Rs 1 crore,” Mohite added. The trucks have been parked inside the tehsil office premises. They will be released only after the fine is paid, he said.