The episode of a senior geologist of the Mines and Geology Department in Hassan, H.C. Divakar, seeking voluntary retirement from service, has brought to the fore the pressure that officials face when tackling illegal sand transporters.
The officer is said to have cited pressure on him to work in favour of illegal transporters as the reason for voluntary retirement.
“ It is quite common to get calls from owners when their trucks are seized. There is no need to yield to pressure Umesh H. Kusugal,Deputy Commissioner of Hassan. Umesh H. Kusugal, Deputy Commissioner of Hassan ”
During his recent raid on trucks carrying excess load of sand above the prescribed limit, he reportedly received phone calls asking him to release the trucks.
He expressed his disappointment over the non-cooperation of police officials during such raids and alleged that they did not provide security to officers conducting the raids.
“ I have faced threats during my tenure. Someone had set fire to the entrance of my house. But such things should not disturb usK. Mathai,Former tahsildar of Hassan.K. Mathai,Former tahsildar of Hassan ”
Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from Bengaluru, a senior colleague of the officer said at least 70 per cent of the officers in the department were planning to quit because of work pressure and harassment by external forces. “Nine departments are involved in handling sand mining activities. But whenever something goes wrong, officers of the Mines and Geology Department are held responsible. The department is already running short of staff. We cannot take this pressure.
