Administrative Crackdown on Illegal Sand Transport and Storage in Jhabua

Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh: A major administrative action has been taken against illegal sand transport and storage in Jhabua district. This follows a shocking incident in which the car of District Collector Neha Meena was violently hit by a dumper truck. Fortunately, the Collector, who was in the car at the time, escaped unharmed.

The incident quickly led to a revelation that the dumper’s owner, Shantilal Baser, a resident of Ranapur, had been involved in illegal sand trading for years. In response, the revenue and police departments launched a swift operation, raiding Baser’s sand storage facility in Ranapur and sealing the illegal stockpile.

On Monday, panic spread across the Jhabua district headquarter after Collector Neha Meena’s official Innova car was rammed by a speeding dumper. Investigations confirmed that Shantilal Baser, notorious for his illicit activities, owned the vehicle involved in the accident. Authorities discovered that Baser had unlawfully built large-scale storage facilities on tribal land in Survey No. 536 of Balwa village, violating land-use regulations and without legal documentation.

The issue of illegal sand mining and transportation has long been raised by local media and public representatives, with many questioning the silence of the mining department. However, this accident has acted as a wake-up call, sparking a comprehensive crackdown on the sand mafia.

Ranapur’s Tehsildar, Hukum Singh Nagwal, led his team in sealing Baser’s godown, noting that not only was the construction illegal, it also infringed upon land designated for the tribal community. Local villagers reported that Baser and his associates had operated their unauthorized business for a long time, without any proper permissions or departmental oversight.

At the raid site, officials found at least four dumper trucks; further investigations are ongoing to determine the total number involved in illegal activities. Two houses built on the site were also sealed, with all gates and storage facilities—including diesel cans and vehicle parts—secured. Three trolleys of sand were found nearby, though much of the stock had reportedly been hurriedly moved prior to the raid, possibly after receiving advance notice.

Authorities emphasized the need for further investigations—not only against those directly involved in sand trading but also into the role of transport and mining departments, particularly regarding unlicensed and unfit heavy vehicles. Officials also stressed that all mineral transactions must be conducted through official online royalty systems for transparency.

This incident has triggered a district-wide campaign against illegal sand extraction, with police and administration vowing strict legal action under all relevant sections. The broader crackdown is expected to target the entire network supplying sand across the region.

Shabir Mansuri reports from Jhabua.