Mines Dept. refutes charges of illegal sand extraction at Pavoor-Uliya Kudru

The Mines and Geology Department on Wednesday denied charges of illegal sand extraction in and around Pavoor-Uliya Kudru in Netravathi river and the consequent degeneration of the river island.

The Mines and Geology Department on Wednesday denied charges of illegal sand extraction in and around Pavoor-Uliya Kudru in Netravathi river and the consequent degeneration of the river island.

A release said a team of technical experts from the department visited Kudru following news reports about illegal sand extraction and reduction in the size of Kudru that threatened the life of residents.

Other than sliding of the sand mixed soil on Kudru’s east side, the Kudru appears intact in all other places. The soil sliding on the eastern side could be due to absence of any soil-holding vegetation, including the Mangroves, aggravated by fierce flow of the river water, the department said. During the spot visit, no illegal sand extraction activity was witnessed.

The department also noted that the footages beamed in visual media were old ones and there was no evidence of recent sand extraction. It based the claim on the fact that lemon grass had grown on the sand mixed soil in the outer periphery of the Kudru.

As against the Revenue Department record of 30.49 acres extent, the Kudru now actually measured 98.02 acres during physical inspection, the department said, adding no portion of the Kudru was submerged in river water.