Despite restrictions, illegal sand mining is in full swing along the river beds of Mahanadi, Chitrotopla, Paika, Devi in the district. Police has seized a few vehicles , but the mining mafia is unfazed. on Wednesday four equipment used for such mining was seized by the police.

Tractors, JCB , sand pumps are used right under the nose of the administration which finds it difficult to tackle the situation given the legal and illegal business. Villagers on the river side point out at the soil erosion taking place and the threat to the Taladanda and Machgaon canal embankment.

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It is big money and nobody dares to take on the illegal mining mafia, said the villagers. Unauthorized sand quarrying operation has also led to the severe erosion of several villages under Tirtol, Raghunathpur and Kujang on River Mahanadi downstream. This had led to several demonstrations in the past.

However, illegal sandlifting by powerful lobby of builders and construction farms goes on unabated. A squad led by Tirtol tahsildar Mr Ramesh Chandra Panda, Inspector-In-Charge of Tirtol police station Mr Balaram Nayak raided on sand sariyat where they found illegal lifting of sand from Mahanadi River at Olagada, Tartol under Tirtol police limit and seized 8 machines from the spot. They imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 against each of these equipment.