Thane district authorities have seized 10 unauthorised barges and 16 suction pumps allegedly used for illegal sand mining in the Dive-Kewani creek area of Bhiwandi taluka, with equipment valued at approximately Rs 3.60 crore now being processed for destruction.
The joint operation was carried out in the creek near the Dive-Kewani crematorium by teams from the revenue department, district mining department, vigilance units, police administration and the Maharashtra Maritime Board. The action began on the night of Monday, 28 September, and reached a decisive stage at about 2.45 am on Tuesday, according to the report.
The operation was led by district mining officer Vivek Ghule. Vigilance squads 1 and 2, Thane tehsildar Umesh Patil, Bhiwandi tehsildar Abhijit Khole and other revenue officials and employees participated in the enforcement action.
The administration said people involved in the unauthorised extraction attempted to sink the barges and suction pumps after becoming aware of the approaching joint team. The valves of the barges were opened in an effort to submerge the equipment. During an attempt to flee, one barge collided with mangroves, causing environmental damage, the administration said.
The seized equipment represents the machinery used to extract sand from the creek bed. Suction pumps enable operators to remove large quantities of sand from waterways, while barges allow the material to be transported through creek channels. The use of such equipment makes enforcement more difficult because operations can take place away from the road network and during late-night hours.
The latest action also highlights the administrative complexity of regulating sand extraction in Thane’s creek areas. Multiple agencies were involved, including revenue and mining officials responsible for enforcement, the police administration and the state maritime authority responsible for the coastal and waterway setting. The participation of these departments indicates that action in creek areas requires coordination across land administration, mineral regulation, policing and maritime oversight.
The district administration has previously carried out enforcement operations against unauthorised sand extraction in Thane’s creek regions. The administration’s account describes the latest raid as part of efforts to curb repeated illegal mining activity in these areas. However, the report does not provide details of arrests, criminal cases, the ownership of the seized barges or the legal proceedings initiated against those involved.
The reported collision with mangroves adds an environmental dimension to the enforcement action. Mangrove areas along creeks perform important ecological functions, but the supplied report does not quantify the extent of damage or identify the specific legal provisions being applied in response to the incident.
The administration said the process of destroying the seized property, valued at around Rs 3.60 crore, has begun. Further details on the disposal of the barges and pumps, action against the operators and the assessment of damage to the mangroves were not provided in the report.
