Nagpur: The Bhiwapur police arrested 159 individuals and solved 92 cases related to illegal sand smuggling in the past 16 months and seized an estimated 712 brass of sand worth Rs36.7 lakh. Officials said the success was achieved largely due to strategic surveillance, local-level inputs, and persistent follow-ups with the tehsil office to initiate legal action and recovery.Assistant police inspector Jayprakash Nirmal, who led the operation, said the Wainganga river in the Paoni area had become a hotspot for sand smuggling by people from several villages along its banks. “Locals extracted sand from the riverbed and stored it in depots across the area. The sand would be then sold at rates far below the market price,” Nirmal told TOI.Most of the sand was routed to Nagpur, where demand for construction material is high. “People preferred the illegal route as procuring sand through legitimate channel is costlier because of the royalty, taxes, and transportation charges,” Nirmal said. The sand was often stored in common plots without official titles, making it difficult for police to initiate action initially.Bhiwapur police adopted a dual strategy: criminal offences were lodged against identified individuals while the tehsil office was alerted simultaneously to initiate separate legal action. This coordination allowed for effective tracking of repeat offenders and confiscation of vehicles used in the trade. This resulted in gradual reduction in smuggling routes and dismantling of multiple illegal storage depots.Data shared by the police shows that preventive measures were initiated against 182 individuals suspected of being involved or likely to aid such networks. According to Nirmal, many first-time offenders were either lured by quick profits or influenced by the established ecosystem in their villages. Police say efforts are under way to raise awareness among villagers about the legal consequences and environmental damage caused by sand smuggling.The crackdown is expected to continue with more field inspections and collaborations with the revenue department, as authorities aim to eliminate the practice entirely from Bhiwapur and nearby talukas.Nirmal stated that once sand is seized during anti-smuggling operations, permission is obtained from the tehsildar to allot it to the local gram panchayat or village development officers for distribution to residents, especially for constructing homes and basic housing needs.
