Vigilance sleuths raid quarries

Thiruvananthapuram: The vigilance and anti-corruption bureau on Thursday conducted a state-wide search in granite quarries in which several irregularities were found.
In the operation titled “operation stonewall”, 67 teams of vigilance sleuths inspected as many as 306 trucks that carried quarry products. It was found that 133 vehicles did not have the pass to transport quarry products, while another 157 vehicles were carrying more load more than permitted capacity, by altering the vehicle bodies. In 27 quarries, several types of irregularities were detected.
The vehicles coming to the quarries for carrying quarry products should register in the Kerala Online Mining Permit Awarding Service portal and avail passes. But many of the vehicles did not have the required passes. Vehicles which carried overload were handed over to the motor vehicles department, while those without permits were handed over to the mining and geology department. Motor vehicles department slapped a fine of Rs 11 lakhs from the vehicles for overload.
Vigilance director K Sudhesh Kumar said that the operation in the quarries will continue in the coming days, and a detailed report will be sent to the government.