Nagpur: The sand mafia continues to dominate river ghats with brazen impunity, as GPS tracking and geo-fencing safeguards fail to curb illegal mining. Repeated crackdowns, government directives, and Supreme Court guidelines have done little to deter the sand syndicates, raising alarm among authorized ghat operators.
Enforcement Gaps Acknowledge
Officials admit enforcement gaps. "Action is taken, but manpower shortage and competing responsibilities dilute the response," a senior officer said. Geo-fencing alerts designed to prevent mining in closed zones are largely ignored, allowing the mafia to extract sand worth crores of rupees, while causing significant ecological damage and royalty loss to the government, a ghat owner said.
GPS-Enabled Trucks Ply Unauthorized Routes
GPS-enabled trucks continue to ply through unauthorized routes along the Kanhan river and other ghats in Nagpur and adjoining Bhandara and Chandrapur. Analysis of GPS data in several cases, including those probed by the Enforcement Directorate earlier this year, revealed that vehicles do not move to legally permitted sand ghats mentioned in Electronic Transit Permits (ETPs). Instead, they operate exclusively in illegal mining zones.
Geo-Fencing Alerts Ignored
Automated geo-fencing alerts generated when vehicles enter restricted areas have prompted little response, officials acknowledged. "The alerts are system-generated, but follow-up action is often lacking," a senior revenue officer said. Illegal excavation has intensified even after several ghats were officially shut, with heavy machinery operating at night. Police recently arrested an alleged key operator, Kallu Khan, after a prolonged pursuit, pointing to a wider network.
Environmental Concerns Mount
Environmental concerns are mounting. The Kanhan river, a crucial source of water supply and agriculture, is under stress, with rapid bank erosion, falling groundwater levels, and disrupted flow patterns. In one instance, operators erected an unauthorized steel bridge across the river to facilitate transport, reportedly obstructing a large portion of its width and violating environmental norms.
Revenue Losses and Low Conviction Rates
Revenue losses remain substantial, with thousands of illegal mining cases reported statewide this year, including several from Nagpur. While enforcement teams periodically seize vehicles and equipment, convictions are rare. Licensed operators have called for stricter monitoring, including drone surveillance, real-time tracking of GPS alerts, and legal action against violators.
With construction demand rising, illegal extraction shows little sign of slowing. Without consistent enforcement of geo-fencing and prompt action on alerts, river systems face escalating degradation.
