Thane Crackdown: Illegal Sand Mining Racket Busted, Rs 90 Lakh Machinery Destroyed

• Authorities in Thane district busted an illegal sand mining racket in Bhiwandi taluka.
• Machinery worth approximately Rs 90 lakh, including five suction units and eight barges, was destroyed.
• The operation, led by District Collector Shrikrishna Panchal, took place in the Kevani creek area.
• Twelve large storage tanks for illegally extracted sand were demolished, and the land was identified as 'reserved forest'.
• Strict action will also be taken by the forest department and Mangrove Conservation Unit; police were deployed for law and order.