The news report states that all this has been happening with the tacit approval and involvement of politicians and local goons with political backing. The green tribunal has given the police powers to act against such illegal activities, yet reports state that money conveniently exchanges hands between the cops manning nakas and sand miners, and the illegal sand, worth crores, ends up at construction sites.

When the lawmakers turn lawbreakers, whom does one turn to? The report says government officials, too, are passing the buck, with the mangrove cell saying this is in the revenue department’s jurisdiction.

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The government needs to do a lot more to save the state’s water bodies. The MVA government has proclaimed and proved its environment-friendly stance by moving the Metro car shed out of Aarey. It now needs to look a little farther afield. Till then, green activists will have to continue doing their thankless yet all-important job whistle-blowing.