Telkoi/Soro: Illegal sand mining is rampant in the rivers of Telkoi block of Keonjhar district and Soro block of Balasore district. This has caused huge loss to the state exchequer.
In Telkoi, river Samakoi flows through 10 panchayats from Talapada to Kardangi. The tehsil has auctioned Telkoi ghat, but some people have been mining sand illegally from the river, particularly in the areas from Talapada to Shibnarayanpur Goda. Truckloads of sand are transported from the ghats of Satahalia and Dumuna in Talapada panchayat on daily basis.
Locals also alleged that unauthorised sand mining takes place in Kumundi, Bada Kumundi, Betakhuli and Hatimunda in Harichandanpur block under the very nose of the tehsil administration.
Tehsildar Pratibha Manjari Prusty said raids are being conducted against illegal sand miners and penalties are collected from them.
In Soro, illegal sand mining has led to anger among the locals. The people of Salampur in Talanagar panchayat have strongly objected to the unauthorised sand lifting from the bed of river Pitalia. Due to the collapse of the riverbank sand mining was stopped here 15 years ago.
Villagers alleged that the sarpanch and some highly connected people have been mining sand from the river by threatening local residents. They have appealed to Soro tehsildar Priyabrata Padhi seeking action against the wrongdoers.
Sarpanch Rajendra Das, however, denied the allegation. Das said Rs 1.20 lakh was sanctioned to the panchayat to develop a playground. A sum of Rs 20,000 will be deposited with the tehsil to mine sand for levelling the playground, he added.
PNN
