Jagatsinghpur: Intensifying the drive against illegal sand mining, the authorities in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district have seized over 500 truckloads of sand dumped in Biridi area.
Acting on a specific information, sub-collector Prashant Kumar Tarai directed the officials to carry out crackdown against the illegal dumping of said. A joint team of the district administration and police conducted raids at Sankharisahi under Biridi block and seized huge volumes of sand illegally stored at different locations.
During the raid, officials found huge quantities of sand stored on the government land.
Sources said steps will be taken to auction the seized sand if the hoarders failed to present themselves. Efforts are on to identify those involved in illegal lifting of sand from Devi riverbed and dumping the same in government land.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNS have been clamped in the area as a precautionary measure to prevent any move by the boarders to illegally lift and transport the sand.
Sources said the the value of the seized sand was estimated to be around Rs one crore and the administration is set to take stringent action against those involved in the illegal operation.
It may be recalled that the district administration had in February this year seized over 100 truckloads of illegally dumped sand from three locations of Biridi block.
The seizure was made after Biridi tehsildar visited the spot and confirmed illegal storage of sand at three locations in Adhang, Majurai and Baharpur villages, leading to crop damage and difficulties for commuters.
On February 6, the tehsildar submitted a report to the sub-collector regarding illegal sand storage on both private and government land. The report recommended strict action against illegal hoarders under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Based on the tehsildar’s report, the district administration had issued notices to three persons, including one alleged sand mafia member, for illegal storage of sand on private plots and government land.
In December last year, a joint enforcement team of the district had exposed massive unauthorised sand extraction and seized 46 Hyva trucks and three chain-mounted excavators. Six drivers were arrested.
