Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has unveiled a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for sand mining in an effort to curb illegal extraction by mafia in different parts of the state.
Official sources said that the SOP, issued by the minor minerals directorate of the Steel and Mines Department, aims at ensuring sustainable sand mining practices in the state.
As per the new guidelines, a special committee will be constituted in every district, headed by the District Collector, to oversee sand mining activities. The committee will comprise members from various departments, including the sub-Collector, SP, DFO, and District Development Officer. The Revenue Department ADM, District Mining Officer, two BDOs, and two Tehsildars will also be part of the committee, with the Additional Project Director serving as the convener.
It will be the job of the committee to identify suitable sand mining sites, taking into account the requirements of the area. As per the OMMC 2016 rules, the sand mining process will be under the supervision of the BDO for a period of five years. The District Mining Officer will assist the BDO in preparing the mining plan, and a survey will be conducted to determine the boundaries of the sand mining sites.
Similarly, a committee will be formed at the Panchayat level headed by the sarpanch to monitor sand mining activities. The committee will keep a close eye on leaseholders, maintain a register of sand extraction, and ensure security personnel guard the quarry.
While a team will work under the supervision of Tehsildar, CCTV cameras will be installed at every sand ghat to check theft and illegal extraction, the sources added.
