Police, forest teams step up Chambal night watch over suspected sand smuggling

After the end of the rainy season, the police and forest departments have increased night surveillance along the Chambal River in view of the possibility of illegal sand excavation and transportation. The move, described as “Operation Night Watch”, saw SP Dharmaraj Meena and DFO Harishchandra Baghel remain at sensitive river ghats late into the night with teams from both departments.

The officials reached the Chambal area late on Sunday evening and carried out raid-like surveillance from Rajghat to Kuthiyana and Chinnani. They inspected several sensitive ghats connected with the river and kept watch on possible sand excavation and transportation activities.

The joint team inspected Rajghat, Rahu Ghat, Gadora, Rithora, Kuthiyana and Chinnani, among other locations. The surveillance continued late into the night, with police and forest personnel monitoring the movement of vehicles around the ghats.

Rajghat was given particular attention because it is connected to National Highway-44. Officials believe that the location could be used for transporting sand. The team focused on points from where tractor-trolleys could reach the river for illegal excavation.

The presence of the officials continued through the night. However, no tractor-trolley reached the ghats for sand excavation during the surveillance. The team also did not find any clear illegal excavation activity or fresh signs of excavation at the locations it inspected.

This has raised another question for the investigation: “जब घाटों पर उत्खन नहीं मिला तो शहर में लगातार पहुंच रही रेत आखिर आ कहां से रही है?” In English, the question is: “When no excavation was found at the ghats, where, after all, is the sand that continues to reach the city coming from?”

The task force will now look beyond the river ghats. Its surveillance will also cover sand dumping areas and the transport routes through which sand is reaching the city. The next focus will be on identifying the route and points involved in the movement of the sand.

DFO Harishchandra Baghel said that 16 new forest outposts are being constructed to strengthen surveillance at the sensitive ghats of the Chambal. Forest department personnel will be stationed at these outposts along with armed personnel from the SAF.

The plan includes round-the-clock surveillance at the outposts. CCTV cameras and GPS technology will also be used as part of the monitoring system. According to the department, construction of the outposts will be completed soon.

SP Dharmaraj Meena has directed officials to increase night patrolling in the Chambal area and to keep checking suspicious vehicles continuously. He has also instructed the teams to take immediate action if illegal sand is found in any vehicle or if information about any unlawful activity comes to light.

Meena made it clear that illegal sand excavation from the Chambal River would not be allowed. The directions cover both the movement of suspicious tractor-trolleys and other vehicles that may be linked to the transportation of sand.

The joint activity by the police and forest departments continued for the second consecutive day as part of the effort to stop illegal sand excavation in the Chambal. The sudden arrival of the SP and DFO at the ghats at night has tightened surveillance in the area.

The officials’ presence at the river locations also meant that the expected movement of tractor-trolleys was not seen during the night. At the same time, the absence of fresh excavation signs at the ghats has shifted attention to the roads and dumping points connected with the city.

The main challenge before the task force now is to identify the routes and dumping areas from where sand is reaching the city. If excavation is not taking place at the ghats but transportation of sand is continuing, the next action by the task force will focus on joining these links and tracing the movement of the sand.