Balodabazar: On Thursday, the administration sprang into action in the home district of the Revenue Minister following complaints of illegal sand excavation and transportation. Under the directives of Collector Chandan Kumar, a special team comprising subdivisional officers from all development blocks in Balodabazar was formed, launching a coordinated crackdown. Overnight operations resulted in the seizure of a significant number of vehicles, including overloaded trucks and those without royalty permits.
Approximately 50 or more high-capacity vehicles, including tractors and over 7 chain mountain machines, involved in transporting sand from the mines operational during the night were targeted in this enforcement action. As of now, official figures regarding the scale of the operation are not available, and the data may increase as more information becomes accessible.
Interestingly, neither the mining authorities nor the police department were initially informed about the operation. Information about the enforcement action was only shared with the police around 10 PM after the operation had commenced. The unauthorized transportation of sand causes financial losses to the revenue department.
According to sources, sand mine operators issue a permit by cutting a voucher and providing it to the vehicle, allowing it to transport sand from the Mahanadi River two to three times after paying a royalty fee. However, an additional charge of Rs. 8500 is levied on the vehicle owner for extra sand loading, making the commodity expensive for the common citizen.
Insiders reveal that mineral authorities also play a role in this illicit practice, receiving a substantial monthly amount. Moreover, administrative officials are also said to have a share, ensuring that mining operators get a heads-up before any official action is taken. A precedent for this scenario was witnessed last year in the Mohan Sand Mines of the Palari development block, where vehicles disappeared from the Mahanadi River as soon as the authorities received information about impending actions.
It remains to be seen how the state government will deal with the sand mining mafia responsible for causing revenue losses following this significant crackdown.
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