Seraikela administration warns illegal sand miners of strict action

Mail News Service

Seraikela, Feb 18: Seraikela-Kharsawan district administration here issued warning to illegal sand miners engaged in digging out sand from the banks of Kharkai, Sapra and other local rivers. The authorities said those found mining sand without permit would be prosecuted.

A team of senior administration officials comprising the sub divisional officer (SDO) of Seraikela Ram Krishna Kumar and Chandil SDO Ranjeet Lohra reached the banks of Sapra River under Adityapur police station area to crack down on illegal sand miners.

District mining officer Sunny Kumar, Gamharia Circle Officer Manoj Kumar and forest ranger Prakash Chandra were also present during the raid. By the time the officials reached the riverbank, the culprits had fled the scene.

The raid team seized as many as 60 dongas (vessels) used to carry sand from the riverbank to the trucks. 

“We carried out the raid on the basis of tip-offs received consistently. But we have not been able to seize tractors illegally carrying out sand at the riverbanks,” said the Seraikela SDO. The Chandil SDO said the sand miners take out sand from the riverbed by diving into the river. Such risky mining method can prove fatal to the miner. Hence we have taken serious note of it and are now going to take strict legal action against the culprits, he said.