Nayagarh: Over 20 trucks were seized by the police for illegally transporting sand in Khandapada area of Odisha’s Nayagarh district.
As per sources, the special operation was conducted in the presence of Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena and more than 20 trucks were seized near Barakoli Chhak in Khandapada block of the district.
The crackdown came after the Minister, while returning from the Pushyabhishek event of Lord Neelamadhava at Kantilo, noticed several trucks loaded with sand near Barakoli Chhak. The Minister could figure out that sand was being transported illegally and issued instruction for immediate interception of the trucks.
When the trucks were intercepted it was found that none of the vehicles had valid permits for sand transportation. The sand was being illegally transported from the Mahanadi riverbank.
The trucks were seized and handed over to the authorities concerned on the instruction of the Minister, sources said.
Khandapada MLA Dusmanta Kumar Swain, local Tehsildar Biswabisruta Tripathy, and local police officials were present during the inspection.
