Cuttack: Illegal sand mining rampant in Salipur area of Cuttack, yet the district administration as well as other concerned authorities have turned a blind eye towards this issue.
The locals have alleged that due to the callous attitude of the local authorities sand mafias are getting opportunity to become active. And this in turn has resulted in the loss of revenue worth crores to the state exchequer.
The villagers informed that illegal lifting of this minor mineral is going on both at day and night. Besides the plying of overloaded trucks are damaging the roads, alleged the villagers. They have alleged that heavy equipment including JCBs have been engaged in this illegal work.
However, the Cuttack district administration, Police and Odisha Mining Corporation officials have turned silent observers. Why the vehicles in which the illegal sand is being transported are not getting checked. Is there anybody under whose aegis this illegal activity is going on?
The Balighats (sand sairats) in Nagaspur, Demando and Palda are coming under the Deputy Director of Mines in Cuttack. Here illegal sand mining is going on since long.
These Bali ghats are coming under Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). Yet, authorities are allegedly not paying heed to this illegal mining. Besides, how come without permission sand lifting is going on. Even the sand mafias have not left a burial ground that is on the river bed. The road is also getting damaged, but there is no check to the sand mafias. Even sometimes the trucks are transporting sand without covering, complained the villagers. Day by day, sand mafias are becoming more active and government is losing revenue.
On the other hand the Mining officer has said that nobody has been given permission for sand lifting. The mining officer has said that Police have been informed in this matter to check the vehicles. He said that soon a team will be formed and raids will be conducted to check illegal sand mining. The locals have questioned that why the Police personnel of Nemala, Nischintakoili and Salipur are not seizing these illegal transporting vehicles.
Report: Subhashish Basantaray, Salipur
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