Bhubaneswar: Legislators of BJP and Congress Friday disrupted the Budget Session of Odisha Assembly demanding introduction of a policy to curb illegal sand quarrying in the state.
In absence of a sand quarrying policy in the state, hundreds of sand-laden vehicles are being engaged to illegally transport sand to different places within and outside the state, the MLAs of both the parties alleged in the House.
“In rural areas, poor people are paying a hefty amount of fine for loading sand in tractors. But no action is being taken against sand mafia. The government is losing Rs 14,000 crore revenue per annum due to illegal sand mining,” senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati argued in the House.
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The draft of Odisha Sand Policy is in its final stage, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Sudam Marndi in a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Mohan Majhi.
“On April 11, 2018, the decision for implementation of the police was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the then Chief Secretary. However, the process has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Majhi added.
Marndi also informed that 144 tehsils in the state have been identified as sensitive areas. Special squads comprising government officials, including revenue inspectors and amins have been formed in the smuggling-prone areas to curb the illegal activity.
PNN