By Our Correspondent
JAJPUR/BHUBANESWAR: Jajpur Police have stepped up drive against illegal sand mining and chasing sand mafias in the district. With pro-active role of SP CS Meena, district police regularly conducting raids at various places.
Police have seized 13 tractors and arrested 14 persons for illegal extraction and transportation of sand in Binjarpur block of the district. “Special Drive Against Illegal Extraction & Transportation Of Minor Minerals .Binjarpur Police Seized 13 Tractors Loaded With Sand And Apprehended 14 Persons For Illegal Extraction And Transportation. In this Connection, A Cases U/S 379/34 IPC/ 21 MMDR Act Has Been Registered,” SP Jajpur said @spjajpur.
With illegal lifting and theft of sand proving to be a continuous challenge, the Odisha government is planning to start a separate directorate to regulate mining of minor minerals.
Last year, the government had framed Odisha Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2018 for regulating the mining activity of minor minerals. As per the rules, mining operation would be done within the mining area as per mining plans.
Once a sand block is identified, the tehsildar will put it up for auction after receiving environmental clearance. While preparing a mining plan, the distance of mining area from habitations, heritage sites, monuments, public infrastructure facilities will be taken into consideration.The government policy also prohibited sand mining at night (from 7 pm to 6 am), unless such operations are considered necessary for specific reasons.
