Infuriated locals of Khanpur under Balasore’s Baliapal block blocked the Baliapal-Kamarda main road on Wednesday protesting alleged illegal sand mining from the riverbed near their village.
They alleged that sand mafias from West Bengal are involved in rampant illegal mining of sand from Subarnarekha riverbed under Baliapal Tehsil. The mafias are not only mining sand, they also smuggle it to West Bengal, they alleged.
They accused police of being hand in gloves with the mafia who smuggle sand out of Odisha without any valid license after bribing the cops.
The locals feared the sand mining will endanger their homes and habitation during floods in Subarnarekha.
“The sand mining goes on from 11 pm till early morning every night. It results in flood in the river. How will we live in our village? The riverbed has not been auctioned. The mafias are lifting sand from here illegally,” said a protester.
“They carry sand by heavy vehicles all through the night. We have advised them not to do that many times before. But they do not listen to us. Even the administration has turned a deaf ear to our plight even after repeated complaints. We demand complete ban on illegal sand mining in our area,” said another protester.
Asked about the allegations, Sadanand Nayak, Baliapal Police ASI evaded the questions by the media.
“I have come here on duty to look about the road blockade. I cannot say anything more on this,” he said.