MANGALORE: Reports of late indicate that sand smuggling from border areas of Karnataka towards Kerala has once again become rampant since the past few days.
Locals say the illegal activity was being carried out unabatedly with due patronage of some politicians and bureaucrats.
Sources reveal that daily over 1000 lorry loads of sand is being smuggled to Kerala via Talapady Toominadu from Jepinamogaru Devipura via Salettur Mudipu in Konaje.
The sand is thus smuggled to Palakkad, Ernakulam, Kallikote, Trissur, Kannur and other places.
Moreover this fearless smuggling of sand during broad daylight has surprised many. The smuggling on the other hand was eroding the river bed of Netravathi in Sajipa, Harekala and other places.
Locals say the sand smuggling was impossible but for the patronage of officials whose palms have been duly greased by the smugglers. That explains the reason for the official apathy as well as inaction to the sand smuggling which on several occasions in the past has even posed a law and order problem, while also deteriorating the condition of the roads.
There is also a suspicion that politicians from both Karnataka and Kerala were behind this illegal activity.
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