Rajkot: The Flying Squad of the Office of the Commissioner of Geology & Mining, based at Bahumali Bhawan in the city, has carried out a major crackdown on the mineral mining mafia across Saurashtra over the past six months. During this period, a total of 195 vehicles, including 168 dumpers, 13 Hitachis, and 14 excavators, worth more than Rs 40 crore, have been seized. The department has also recovered Rs 4 crore from those involved in illegal mining.

Ankit Bhatt, Assistant Director of the Flying Squad, stated that acting on complaints related to the illegal extraction of sand, black trap, soft metal, ball clay, China clay, building limestone, hard moram, fire clay, silica, and unauthorized mining on government land, the squad has effectively disrupted the operations of the mineral mafia.

Surendranagar, once considered the stronghold of the mineral mafia, was heavily targeted in the crackdown. Following the government’s action, the mafia has reportedly shifted its operations, making Morbi the new hub of illegal mining activities. In Morbi district alone, 47 dumpers and 12 Hitachi machines have been seized, and Rs 2 crore has been recovered, marking one of the largest operations so far. Key hotspots for illegal mining in Morbi include Halvad, Wankaner, and Maliyaminyana.

Significant operations were also carried out in other districts:

• Rajkot: 49 dumpers and 4 machines seized; Rs 97 lakh recovered.

• Amreli: 2 dumpers worth Rs 4.68 lakh recovered.

• Jamnagar: 29 dumpers worth Rs 55.31 lakh and 1 Hitachi seized.

• Junagadh: 12 dumpers worth Rs 19 lakh recovered.

• Porbandar: 8 dumpers, 1 JCB, and 10 wheelbarrows worth Rs 22.55 lakh seized.

• Surendranagar: 16 dumpers seized; Rs 28 lakh recovered.

• Bhavnagar: 7 dumpers seized; Rs 11.8 lakh recovered.

• Botad: Rs 1.5 lakh recovered.

From April to October, the Office of the Commissioner of Geology & Mining filed 195 cases across nine Saurashtra districts, including 25 mining cases, 169 transportation cases, and 1 storage case. Officials said that Rs 130.03 lakh was recovered in mining cases, Rs 306.8 lakh in transportation cases, and Rs 3.49 lakh in the storage case.

The department’s relentless efforts have significantly weakened the mineral mafia’s network, sending a strong message across the region against illegal mining activities. DeshGujarat