This 60-year-old farmer used RTI to expose how Rakhial village administration clandestinely passed fake resolutions to allow illegal sand mining.
The issue was an eye-opener for the state geology and mining department which is the regulatory body for sandmining activities in the state. The department immediately set up a fact-finding team to investigate the cases.
This is not all. Shantilal Patel today has important documents to show that the development activities in Thasra taluka were of poor quality and did not even survive for a year.
It was in December last year that Patel had objected to a tractor carrying huge loads of mud from near his village pond. “It was strange as when I asked the labourers if they had the permission, they had none. I knew it was the geology and mining department which gives permission for this. I immediately filed an RTI with the village panchayat and the mining department to know the requisite permissions and rules associated with such activities,” said Patel.
This was a clear case of theft. “The village panchayat provided me a backdated resolution allowing the sand mining activity. But the geology and mining department responded in the RTI that the panchayat had no authority to allow any such activity. I filed my case with documentary proof before the geology department. the government immediately imposed a fine of Rs 2.33 lakh on the private individuals for the illegal activity,” said Patel.
The district development officer initiated an enquiry against the village sarpanch for passing fake resolutions. “It was case of theft, but the geology and mining department is yet to lodge an FIR against in the connection. The district development officer too is yet to decide on the suspension of the sarpanch for the poor civic works and the fake resolutions,” said Patel.
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