In a major crackdown on illegal sand mining ahead of the monsoon, the Jagatsinghpur district administration has seized illegally stockpiled sand worth more than Rs 4 crore in a series of enforcement drives conducted over the past five days.
The latest action was carried out on Thursday near Tirtol under Tirtol tehsil, where the sub-collector led a raid and confiscated nearly 400 truckloads of illegally stored sand. Officials estimated the value of the seized material at around Rs 1 crore.
The latest seizure comes close on the heels of two other large-scale operations in the district. On Tuesday, a joint enforcement team raided Bodara and Erada under Naugaon tehsil, where over 900 truckloads of illegally stockpiled sand were seized. Earlier, officials had also confiscated more than 500 truckloads of sand from Sankharisahi under Biridi tehsil. Together, the three operations have resulted in the seizure of sand valued at over Rs 4 crore, marking one of the biggest crackdowns on illegal sand mining in the district in recent times.
Taking serious note of the repeated violations, the district administration has also initiated action against officials responsible for monitoring mining activities. Show-cause notices have been issued to Naugaon Tehsildar Akshaya Badu and the Revenue Inspector of Nuapari over alleged lapses in supervision and enforcement, seeking explanations for the large-scale illegal stockpiling under their jurisdiction.
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According to officials, the intensified enforcement drive was launched amid growing concerns over rampant illegal sand extraction from riverbeds before the onset of the monsoon. Authorities suspect that organised sand mafias have been excavating large quantities of sand without permission, transporting and stockpiling it at multiple locations before selling it at significantly higher prices during periods of increased demand.
The district administration has warned that strict action will continue against those involved in illegal mining and unauthorised storage of minor minerals. Officials said surveillance has been stepped up across vulnerable riverbeds and storage points, and further raids will be conducted to curb illegal extraction and protect natural resources.