Faridabad: Police here have intensified their search for the contractor Rajpal Chauhan who has been absconding since Monday morning when the driver of his truck ran over a constable at a check post

Sand-mining from rivers in the district has been banned by District Collector Ratan Kelkar from June 20 to July 31.

An official press release here on Tuesday said the decision to ban sand-mining during the period was taken to ensure the availability of sand and to protect rivers. The ban period would be extended if necessary, the release said, adding that the river banks and organic resources in the rivers in the district were facing a serious threat from unauthorised sand-mining.

A day after a police constable was run over by a truck transporting sand mined illegally from the Yamuna riverbed, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said while there was little evidence

A day after a police constable was run over by a truck transporting sand mined illegally from the Yamuna riverbed, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said while there was little evidence

Groundwater table, agriculture hit

The menace of illegal sand mining continues to ravage River Bhavani in Erode district and remains a cause of serious concern to the farming community. Every night, tractors, trucks and bullock carts continue to transport loads of sand illegally mined from the river to construction sites in the nearby commercial hubs including Coimbatore, Salem and Tirupur. The authorities concerned including the officials of Department of Geology and Mining and the police personnel here remain silent on this issue.

Residents of Gunia build a temporary barrier with sandbags on the rivulet in December last year and a paddy grower in the village. Telegraph pictures

Groundwater table, agriculture hit

The menace of illegal sand mining continues to ravage River Bhavani in Erode district and remains a cause of serious concern to the farming community. Every night, tractors, trucks and bullock carts continue to transport loads of sand illegally mined from the river to construction sites in the nearby commercial hubs including Coimbatore, Salem and Tirupur. The authorities concerned including the officials of Department of Geology and Mining and the police personnel here remain silent on this issue.

The supply of sand for construction sector is likely to improve with the Central Government approving Andhra Pradesh Government proposal for clearance of mining in 36 sand reaches.

A police head constable, Mahendra Singh, lost his life on Tuesday in Dholpur when he tried to stop a truck carrying illegal sand from Madhya Pardesh. The truck ran over the gead constable, resulting in his instant death. The incident occurred when two policemen, Mahendra and Virendra, noticed four trucks entering from Madhya Pardesh.

According to police sources, one of the trucks ran over Mahendra Singh and the driver of the truck disappeared after the incident, while three other trucks also sped away from the scene.

Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash on Sunday directed District Collector P.M. Ali Asgar Pasha to take stern action against illegal sand-mining from the Bharathapuzha in Shoranur.

Besides illegal sand-mining, hundreds of acres of the riverbed, dried up during the summer, has been converted into vegetable farms. The authorities have not yet taken any action against this.