Pre-Dawn Crackdown Shakes Up Illegal Sand Mining in Maharashtra

A Maharashtra revenue department team led a successful operation against illegal sand mining in Nanded district. Acting under Collector Rahul Kardile’s orders, they seized and destroyed Rs 18 lakh worth of equipment, including local sand-lifting devices and rafts used in the illegal practice.

A pre-dawn operation by the Maharashtra revenue department has disrupted illegal sand mining activities in Nanded district. Acting on orders from Collector Rahul Kardile, a special team raided areas in Kallal and Pimpalgaon Nimji, seizing equipment worth Rs 18 lakh.

The crackdown, carried out early Monday morning around 5 am, resulted in the confiscation of equipment used in illicit sand extraction. Among the seized items were three 'gudgudee'—locally manufactured devices used to lift sand—and 15 rafts.

In a decisive move, officials, aided by laborers, destroyed the impounded devices using gelatine explosives, while the rafts were set ablaze. The combined value of the destroyed equipment and materials totaled Rs 18 lakh, marking a significant blow to the illegal sand mining operations in the region.