Drone ‘eyes’ on illegal transport of sand, district administration ready to prevent smuggling

Pune: To prevent illegal sand extraction and smuggling from rivers and streams during the night, the district administration has started using drones for surveillance. Two drones have been provided by the district administration, and they will be used in areas such as Baramati, Indapur, Daund, Ambegaon, and Junnar, depending on the demand and need. This is expected to curb the activities of sand mafias.

The state government has formulated a policy to ensure that the public can obtain sand at reasonable rates. As part of this, sand is being sold at a price of 600 rupees per load, and contracts have been awarded for around 26 locations in the district. However, illegal sand mining continues, and sand is being smuggled. Sand extraction takes place during the day or night using boats, and the mined sand is either hidden in bushes along the riverbanks or stored in nearby fields. Trucks are also concealed in these areas, making it difficult for revenue department officials and other authorities to reach them, preventing them from stopping the illegal activities.

To tackle this issue, the district administration has now begun using drones for surveillance. Two drones have been acquired, and they will be used to monitor rivers and streams in areas like Daund, Baramati, Indapur, Junnar, Ambegaon, and Shirur. Local authorities will gather information to help catch the culprits involved in the illegal activities. Drones will also be used to detect thefts of other materials like gravel, stones, and soil. This initiative has recently started, and the district administration has appointed a company to manage the operation.