Cops, mining officials bust illegal sand mining racket in Ujjain

INDORE: In a major seizure, Ujjain police and mining department officials on Friday busted an illegal sand mining racket in catchment area of Gambhir river between village Aslana and Semadia. The operators had installed modern equipment to draw large amount of sand from the bottom of the river and collect it on the riverside, mining inspector Jaideep Namdev said.
District collector Manish Singh had received a tip-off about the illegal mining operations following which the departments concerned were asked to conduct the raid, he said adding the operators fled the spot before the police team reached the spot.He also managed to dispose of a heavy machine and plant.
The team has recovered three trucks, a tractor, a steamer, motorcycle and 400-ft pipe.
The excavation equipment were installed on a steamer in the centre of the river. The steamer was connected to the river bank through huge pipes and the machines sucked the sand and water.
The filtered sand got collected on the river bank while water was returned back to the river.
This is the second time after February that the mining department officials have busted such a large-scale illegal mining operation in Ujjain.