Odisha villagers up in arms against illegal sand smuggling

Tension prevailed in parts of Puri district after hundreds of villagers staged a sit-in protest opposing sand mining activities from the Debi riverbed under Kakatpur tehsil.

The protest was held at Dahanikhia, where locals raised strong objections to sand extraction from the Devi river in Lataharan Mouza. Residents alleged that continuous lifting of sand from the riverbed is posing serious environmental threats, including erosion and potential flood risks, besides affecting agriculture and daily life in nearby villages.

Demand For Immediate Closure Of Sand Operations

Villagers from Mutunia and Talada under Kakatpur block, Dahanikhia under Naugaon block, and Tarasahi under Balikuda block participated in the agitation. Gathering near the sand ghat site at Dahanikhia, the protesters demanded immediate closure of the sand mining operations.

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On receiving information, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai reached the protest site and held discussions with the agitating villagers. After hearing their grievances, he assured them that he would take up the matter with the Puri District Collector and press for appropriate action regarding the sand ghat.

Warning Of Intesifying Protest

Following the assurance, the villagers withdrew their dharna. However, they issued a warning that if the administration fails to shut down the sand ghat, they will intensify their agitation in the coming days.

“The sand is from Puri, but we are from Jagatsinghpur. Because of our problems, we have asked them to take the sand from their own place. They are antisocial and lack basic decency. They are trying to kill us with their vehicles. We have a forest of the local deity. A little money can be used for that, the forest will die. We are poor people and depend on farm animals, and our livelihood will be affected. It is because of all this that we are protesting against the sand smuggling. Our demand is that the sand smuggling be stopped, we will stage a sit-in protest outside the police station and court along with our children,” a villager threatened.