Odisha Chief Secretary Directs Districts to Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Mining

Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja chaired a high-level video conference with Collectors, District Magistrates, and Superintendents of Police to discuss key governance issues, with a significant focus on curbing illegal mining of minor minerals across the state.

Emphasizing the need for a rigorous enforcement drive, the Chief Secretary directed district authorities to conduct extensive raids on illegal sand and stone quarries, enforce strict monitoring at mining sites, and take legal action against offenders. Officials were instructed to crack down on unauthorized mineral transport by seizing vehicles involved in illegal activities and ensuring compliance with the E-Transit Pass system.

To streamline enforcement, district administrations have been asked to form joint task forces comprising revenue, mining, and police officials at both the sub-divisional and tehsil levels. These teams will spearhead operations to identify, monitor, and eliminate illegal mining activities at the grassroots level.

In a proactive move to regulate the availability of minor minerals and stabilize market prices, Collectors have been tasked with identifying new mineral sources equivalent to 150% of existing ones. Each district will conduct surveys for potential sand and black stone sources, with District Survey Reports to be completed by August and the identified sites auctioned by October.