The Jajpur district administration has tightened the noose over the illegal mining of minor minerals going on in the district following increased attacks on officials by goons. As many as four district level teams led by Jajpur collector Ranjan Kumar Das carried out surprise raids on illegal mining areas at different locations across the district in the wee hours on Tuesday.

As per the information of the district authorities, as many as 43 heavy vehicles carrying illegal sand, mourm, laterite stone and black stone have been seized by the teams.

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The administration has also collected fine of Rs 4 lakh from the errant miners. More than 40 cases have been registered by the police. The teams had conducted surprise raids at Budha ghat on the river bank of Budha under Jajpur tahasil limits, Bayree laterine stone quarry under Darpan Tahasil, Aruha and Anjira under Dharmasala tahasil and some parts of Kalinga Nagar area under Sukinda tahasil in the district.

“Four district level teams had conducted surprise raids at different illegal mining areas under four tahsil limits in the district with officials of police and revenue. We caught 43 heavy vehicles including some tractors red handed which were illegally carrying minor minerals from those tahsil areas on 16 February,’ said Jajpur collector Ranjan Kumar Das.The collector said that the Regional Transport Officer and the respective tahsildars have been asked to file FIRs against the mining violators.

“The vehicles carrying minerals illegally have violated both MVI and Mining rules. While RTO has been directed to lodge FIR against those violated MVI Act, Tahasildars to file FIR against those who have violated Mining and Mineral Act with the local police,” he said.

The collector has further directed the respective tahsildars to ensure complete curtailing of all illegal mining activities related to sand and laterite stone, black stone and morum in the district. The collector said several complaints regarding illegal mining activities were being received from Dharmasala, Barachana, Korei, Jajpur, Danagadi and Sukinda areas of the district.

Mr Das said that he had visited some areas of the district where illegal mining was taking place. “Apart from carrying out checking of documents of vehicles ferrying minor minerals, proper monitoring of using of helmet of two-wheeler riders and seat belt in case of four wheeler in the district be carried out on a daily basis,” he said.

He further addded the teams are also carrying out checking heavy vehicles on National Highways during nights with the help of police officials so as to effectively curb the illegal mining activities in the district.

Jajpur superintendent of Police, Charan Singh Meena, Jajpur, Addditional District Magistrate, Brajabandhu Bhola, Jajpur Sub-collector Narayan Chandra Dhal, Jajpur Tasildar, Laxmikanta Mishra. Dharmasala Tahasildar Pravas Kumar Behuria and Darpan Tahasildar Ashok Kumar Mohapatra are among in the teams.