Padmapur: Sand mafia is back in its business on the bed of river Anga here in Bargarh district soon after floodwater receded, a report said.
The police and revenue departments keep mum even as rampant smuggling is taking place under their very nose, it is alleged.
According to reports, sand in hundreds of trucks and dumpers is being smuggled out from Lakhamara, Jagadalpur and Gukulipahada here to Chhattisgarh. The mafia is mining the riverbed without obtaining lease and in the knowledge of police and revenue department officials.
On the other hand, some people having vested interests collect Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 from each tractor and dumper respectively. Mining is going on at least five places on the riverbed, it was learnt.
Though such rampant smuggling goes on in violation of environment norms and results in huge revenue losses, the silence of the administration baffles many.
When contacted, sub-collector Daulat Chandrakar said the tehsildar has been assigned to check sand smuggling.
Recently, Rs 72,000 was collected from six tractors involved in illegal sand transport, he added.
While sand is stolen in hundreds of tractors and dumpers every day, this once-a-while raid is nothing but eyewash, alleged locals and sought the attention of the Collector to check the rampant smuggling.
PNN