Bhadrak: The law and order situation has been deteriorating in some riparian areas of Bhadrak district over sand mining and auction of sand quarries. Reports of clashes among local villagers and attacks on enforcement agencies are commonplace here.
During the last few days, disputes have cropped up in different areas under Bant tehsil. At some places, people have opposed sand quarry actions, while some influential people have been lobbying for auctions at other places. In such situation, the local administration is allegedly sitting pretty.
According to the district survey report, 20 sand mines had been auctioned earlier. Later, a decision was taken to put three new sand mines of Bhadaripokhori block and six of Bant block under auction.
This has resulted in deep resentment among the people living near the proposed sand mines. They have been opposing the auction since January.
For quite some time now, some influential people have been illegally mining murram near Mohanty Pada under Bant tehsil. However, the administration claims that it has no report of such activities.
In some places, lessees have been lifting sand beyong the sanctioned capacity using excavators, which is against the official norms. Wanton sand mining has posed danger to some riparian villages, it was alleged.
As per the guidelines issued by the MoEF in 2016, no excavations can be allowed within a perimeter of 200 to 500 meter from any bridge. Despite this, sand mining has allegedly weakened a bridge at Kandaba, which links Bhadrak and Balasore. As a result, locals are apprehensive of the durability of the bridge.
Locals alleged that no attention is being paid to the guidelines for sand mining in the area as the administration has turned a blind eye to such blatant violations.
Rampant sand mining has triggered erosion of the river bank at some places like Haripur Balighat. As a result, a river in the area has encroached local farmlands and even a part of the Agarpada-Gopinathpur road.
Environment clearance is a must for undertaking sand mining. In many cases mining is being carried out despite the fact that environment clearances for those areas are pending.
When contacted, Sub-Collector Pitambar Samal said that allegations will be looked into. If illegal sand and murram mining is found anywhere, action will be taken, he added.
PNN