Seized sand auctioned

AYYAPPANCOIL (Idukki): The Revenue Department auctioned eight loads of sands illegally mined from the Ambalakadvu sand-mining spot on the Periyar in the reservoir area of Idukki dam here on Friday.

The action follows the seizure of the sands after the Idukki Sub-Collector issued a conditional order banning mining of sands, earths and raw sands which affects the environment of the area and the biophysical system of a river.

The auction has fetched Rs.52,000 to the exchequer after a team led by Peerumade tahsildar C.M. Sebastian seized the sands at Ambalakaduvu, the main sand-mining spot on the Periyar where illegal mining was going on for sometime.

Since the area was close to the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, the mining was going on even after the Travancore Cements, the company which was entrusted to mine sands in the reservoir of Idukki, Kallarkutty and Lower Periyar, has undertaken a survey here.