Bhandaripokhari: The Baitarani riverbed under this block in Bhadrak district has turned into a hunting ground of sand mafia. Occasional raids have allegedly failed to curb the illegal trade. As a result the State Government is losing a huge amount of revenue.
Sources said, the mafia has engaged excavators and has been lifting sand from ghats at Maninathpur, Mudhapada and Balipopkhari banks. Truckloads of sand are being illegally extracted from the riverbed and transported every night.
Locals alleged the revenue officials carry out raids, but very rarely. The tehsil and police have closed their eyes to the illegal sand mining, they rued
There is high demand for sand in the district as construction is being carried out in many localities.
Locals also said that due to the rampant excavation of sand the riverbed has been weakening rapidly. Embankments at some places have weakened alarmingly. They informed that they have repeatedly tried to draw the attention of revenue and police officials to the problem, but to no avail.
For the last few days, the sand mafia has openly engaged two excavators at Maninathpur ghat and has been lifting sand at night which they load on trucks and distribute during the day. The impunity with which they are carrying out their operations has left everyone dumbfounded.
Recently, tehsildar Mrutyunjay Bhuyan had seized two mini-trucks and imposed fines of Rs 30,105 on the owners of the vehicles. Later, a team of revenue officials seized a mini truck and five tractors at the same location, but that has had no effect on the miscreants.
Locals, however, are upset at the way the matter has been dealt with by the administration. They alleged that the culprits had been allowed to go by just imposing a fine. “When they are earning huge amounts, petty fines do not have value on the mafia members,” said a local resident.
Tehsildar Bhuyan however, said the administration is well aware of illegal sand excavation and action is being taken. “We are thinking of finding a permanent solution to the problem,” the tehsildar informed.
PNN
