THE City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) seized hydraulic machines used in illegal mining in upland villages of this city during an operation in Barangay Tuburan on Tuesday. Clenro chief Edwin Dael informed the Gold Star Daily yesterday that they were able to confiscate two five-horsepower hydraulic machines at Barangay Tuboran but failed to arrest the operators of the machines. The hydraulic machines the Clenro confiscated, Dael said, were the type that were usually being used by illegal miners. Illegal mining operations in the upland barangays of the city have been blamed for the flashfloods and siltation of Cagayan River. The confiscated hydraulic machines have been deposited for safe keeping at the Tingalan Barangay Hall, as of this writing. (nitz arancon)