Taking a strong cue from the blanket ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal recently, officials of the Forest Department carried out a series of raids in all the nullahs and banks of the Ravi and its tributaries and detected a number of lawbreakers and imposed suitable penalties in the last month. The Tribunal has observed that "we restrain any person, company and authority to carry out any mining activity or removal of sand from river beds anywhere in the country without obtaining environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and a licence from competent authorities." A total of 24 cases have been detected and various vehicles apprehended which were found extracting sand and gravel and released by forest officials of Masroond and Sundla forest blocks after compounding them under Section 68 of the Indian forest Act. A total fine of Rs 45,093 has been realised in Chamba forest circle during the last month from the offenders, ARM Reddy, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Chamba forest circle, disclosed here on Tuesday. The process of raids would continue on commercial extractions carried out in contravention of the directions of the Tribunal, the CCF said. While inspecting the forest check-post at Baroh in Masroond range, Reddy directed the check-post officials and all the field staff to examine the M-Form or any other valid document issued by the Mining Department before permitting it to pass through the check-post else suitable action would be taken against the illegal transporters of the mining material.