Noamundi, Feb. 13: Sand mafia have been undertaking illegal and indiscriminate excavation of sand from the bed of Baiterny River at Gumaria Mundai and Jaingarh under Jagnathpur police station area.
The sand mined from these areas are supplied for the construction of Kondra check dam at Joda area in neighboring Odisha as well as in Monoharpur and Noamundi regions of West Singhbhum.
The administration has allegedly turned a blind eye to the issue causing huge losses to the state exchequer. The lease of Baiterni River has not yet been cleared by the state government and sand mafia in connivance with a section of the local administration is indulged in such illegal operation.
According to reports, the local sand mafia charges Rs 300 per truck of sand and sells it without any documents of receipts.
In this connection, Jagnnathpur Sub-Divisional Officer Istyak Ahmed said that the lease is not yet cleared and after inquiry the report will be sent to the mining department to take action against those who are involved in illegal sand mining.