Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal ordered a crackdown on the sand mafia operating in the Thane creek
Thane: In an overnight crackdown on illegal sand mining, a joint team of Thane revenue department, police and Maharashtra Maritime Board seized equipment worth around Rs 3 crore from Dive-Kewani creek in Bhiwandi taluka and detained one worker, while others escaped.
The workers were caught off guard and allegedly opened the valves of the suction pumps and barges in an attempt to sink the equipment and destroy evidence, according to a revenue official. “The workers then jumped into the deep waters and fled, leaving behind a 19-year-old man from Jharkhand, who was detained and handed over to the police,” the official said. “Cases are being registered with Bhiwandi and Mumbra police stations in connection with the alleged illegal sand extraction and environmental damage,” officials said late Tuesday.