Surat Police Crack Down on Illegal Clay Mining Operation on Municipal Land
In a significant enforcement action, the Adajan police in Surat have apprehended two individuals for conducting unauthorized clay extraction from a vacant plot owned by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). The incident occurred in the Pal area, where authorities seized heavy machinery valued at approximately Rs 1.60 crore, including two JCB excavators and five heavy-duty trucks.
Exploitation of Long Weekend for Illegal Activities
According to police officials, the accused strategically took advantage of the recent long weekend to carry out their illicit operations. They entered the SMC plot without obtaining any necessary permissions, exploiting the reduced oversight during public holidays to expedite their activities.
The illegal excavation spanned two days, during which the perpetrators managed to extract around 625 tonnes of clay from the site. This extracted material was subsequently sold to various builders operating across Surat, indicating a coordinated effort to profit from the city's construction demands.
Complaint and Investigation Details
The case came to light when Siddharajsinh Bhabhor, the assistant engineer for SMC's West Zone (Rander), received an alert from a senior officer regarding suspicious activities at plot number 180 in TP Scheme 14, located near Casa Rivera Residency in Pal.
Upon conducting an inspection on January 27, Bhabhor discovered the JCB excavators and trucks actively engaged in excavation work on the municipal property. Following a thorough investigation, the vehicles were traced back to Jay Chamunda Carting, a company owned by Dipak Vanzara and Kamlesh Vanzara, who were subsequently taken into custody by the authorities.
Legal Actions and Ongoing Probe
Police have registered formal cases against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, primarily focusing on charges of theft and criminal trespassing. The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of this illegal operation and determine whether similar activities have been conducted on other SMC plots throughout the city.
This incident highlights growing concerns about unauthorized mining activities on public lands, particularly in urban areas where construction materials are in high demand. Authorities emphasize the importance of vigilant monitoring to prevent such exploitation of municipal resources.
The seized equipment, now in police custody, serves as evidence in the ongoing probe, which may lead to further arrests or revelations about organized illegal mining networks in the region.
