Wardha: Allegations of large-scale illegal murum mining have surfaced from Vela and Sawali Wagh area in Hinganghat taluka, where excavation is claimed to have exceeded the revenue department permitted quantity of 5,500 brass.The excavation site is located in survey No. 151, and measures 4.17 hectares. According to local talathi, murum extracted from the site was used for Vela-Mandgaon road project.Hingaghat tehsildar Yogesh Shinde said the company engaged in the activity was granted permission to excavate approximately 5,000 brass of murum. Hhowever, villagers allege that nearly 25,000 brass was excavated, causing loss to the govt.According to the villagers, the entire farmland appears to have been excavated, and covered with soil. The company has violated mandatory norms which require a minimum distance of 50 metres from wells and main roads, allege the villagers. With monsoon picking up pace, the site also poses safety risk as the pits filled with soil are likely to fill with water, increasing the possibility of damage to farmland and threat to humans as well as cattle.Shinde further clarified that allegations were investigated and an ETS measurement was carried out. Panchanama has been submitted to district mining officer and investigation report has been sent to the mining department. Deputy tehsildar and the circle officer were also present for the inquiry, he said.
