Jaleswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Medinapur administration of West Bengal to put a curb on the illegal sand loot by mafia from river Subarnarekha on Orissa side.
For many years, the Bengal mafia has been looting sand using powerful swamp pumps from Subarnarekha at Makidia, Kunrpur, Praharajpur, Beherasahi, Dakhina Praharajpur, Makrampur, Rajnagar, Gopalprasad and Guagadia.
The state government has been losing crores of rupees of revenue due to the illegal mining by West Bengal mafia. Moreover, the swamp pumps are causing vibrations in the riparian villages and the riverbanks have collapsed in these areas.
In the preliminary hearing on the illegal sand mining issue, the NGT directed the collector and the SP of West Medinapore to stop illegal sand lifting from the river and even seize machines, trucks, dumpers and excavators engaged in the sand lifting.
As the next hearing of the case is scheduled for October 26, the NGT has asked the administration to submit an action-taken report before the set date. PNN