Stringent action against encroachers District Collector P.G. Thomas has said that a monitoring committee has been constituted as part of the measures aimed at ending unauthorised granite quarrying and sand-mining in the district. He informed this after presiding over a meeting on Friday to discuss the problems posed by such activities. Ashtamudi Lake Mr. Thomas said stringent action would be taken against any form of encroachment on Ashtamudi Lake and also against polluting it. In order to put an end to unauthorised sand-mining, five separate squads headed by five DySPs had been constituted. Each squad would also comprise the respective tahsildar as convener, in addition to the deputy tahsildar, the village officer, and police officers. Raids These would conduct a minimum of four raids a week. The monitoring committee headed by the Revenue Divisional Officer would review the performance of these squads every month. No licence While the police officers mentioned that several sand-yards were operating in the district, the Mining and Geology Department officials who attended the meeting said no licence had been issued for operating sand yards anywhere in the district. The Collector said keeping sand heaped up in yards or jetties would not be permitted and that tahsildars had been directed to seize such sand. Anyone purchasing sand should preserve all the documents concerned. Action The authorities should ensure that action against polluting Ashtamudi Lake was not a cosmetic exercise. Immediate action should be initiated against encroachment on the lake. The District Collector has also issued directions to the officers concerned that reclamation of paddy fields should not be permitted in the territories under their jurisdictions. Five squads to conduct at least four raids a week RDO-led panel to review their work every month