Thane: The Kalyan revenue department took action against the illegal sand miners in Kalyan Creek to curb illegal sand dredging, said an officials on Tuesday.

During the action, a team of Tehsildar Kalyan seized four barges and five suction pumps worth Rs 57 lakh, which were later destroyed. An official said that labourers were working on barges and suction pumps managed to flee by jumping into the creek as the team arrived.

According to the officials, a team was led by the revenue department of Kalyan under the instruction of Tahsildar Sachin Shejal. A team set a trap between Reti Bunder and Gandhare area in Kalyan where they uncovered illegal sand mining.

Sachin Shejal, Tahsildar from the Kalyan Revenue Department, said, "We formed a team comprising eight personnel who raided the spot and seized four barges and five suction pumps. The workers who were engaged there fled the scene by jumping into the creek. The suction pumps were destroyed by being set on fire, and other equipment was cut with a cutter and sunk in the creek."