Mumbai: The stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), commonly used against the gangsters and terrorists, would be invoked against those involved in illegal sand-mining, government said today.
Maharashtra Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat stated in the Legislative Council here that “government is concerned over illegal sand dredging and a stringent law such as MCOCA will be invoked wherever necessary”.
The minister was replying to a query by Hemant Takle (NCP) and others during the question hour.
Earlier, Deputy Chairman of Council Vasant Davkhare also said that sand dredging was a lucrative business and “an organised crime”, and the culprits should be booked under MCOCA.
Thorat admitted that there had been incidents where sand mafia attacked the government officers.
“The revenue department and the home department will work out a solution to this problem,” he added.
But Leader of Opposition Vinod Tawde (BJP) and many Shiv Sena and BJP members were not happy with the minister’s reply, and demanded concrete steps.
