Jhumpura: Illegal sand mining has been rampant in many ghats of river Baitarani in six revenue circles under Jhumpura tehsil in Keonjhar district under the very nose of the administration, a report said.
Some ghats have been leased out for sand mining whereas some others have not. It has caused resentment among the people in these areas. Excessive mining takes place in the lease areas too, it is alleged.
Locals say that though they have been repeatedly drawing attention of revenue officials to the problem, the administration is not taking any action.
“Sand mafia has been carrying out illegal mining in the quarries which have not been leased out,” the villagers lamented. This has caused huge loss of revenue to the state government.
They alleged that excavators have been engaged to quarry sand from the riverbed while truck and tractor-loads of sand are being transported to various areas on a daily basis from Naibuga in Basantpur panchayat.
The mafia has engaged local tribals in the work and made stockpiles of sand.
Locals had filed complaints at the Malda revenue inspector’s office. The villagers pointed out that the administration has not been able to restrain the mafia despite repeated complaints. The minor minerals were being transported to various parts of the districts. Though locals have protested such illegality, the revenue administration has allegedly turned a blind eye to the problem.
Revenue inspector Sonali Sethi could not be contacted while tehsildar Janak Nayak said that steps will be taken to stop the illegal sand mining.
PNN