Patna: Mines and geology department conducted raids at 75 places across all 38 districts of the state on Monday, when it recovered illegally mined sand, stone chips and dug earth for commercial use, realised Rs 18.34 lakh by way of fine and seized 13 vehicles. As many as six first information reports (FIRs) were lodged.
A mines and geology department communiqué said that the raids were conducted to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of sand, transportation of stone chips and digging of earth and its transportation for commercial use.
The fines charged by a court order yielded Rs 10.09 lakh and that by the department Rs 8.25 lakh, the communiqué said. The maximum yield through the two fines came from Bhojpur district.
Of the 13 vehicles seized, a maximum of five were from Aurangabad district.