The department had received number of complaints about illegal sand mining taking place on the banks of Yamuna in East district following which a team was constituted and an operation was conducted to nab the culprits today in the early hours of the morning.
"In the operation, 18 bullock carts full of sand were confiscated while two managed to escape as they threw away the sand in the river.
"After the operation, the seized bullock carts were handed over to the police for initiation of legal proceedings under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act 1957," said a statement issued by State District Magistrate, East district.