Despite a Supreme Court ruling on checking illegal sand lifting from riverbeds across the country, the illegal activity continues in full violation of the apex court's order with sand mafias carrying on their activities in the Birupa riverbed causing threat to the river embankment.
Around 50 tractors and trucks are ferrying sand from several ghats like Dasarajpur, Triveniswar, laptuan, Khartang, Jeypur , Kuhunda, Mulabasanta and Gunupur on daily basis under Mahanga tehsil daily in broad daylight.
The tehsil officials were never seen raiding the vehicles or imposing fines on the violators.
However, due to such flourishing illegal sand-lifting, the Government has been losing crores of rupees annually. Since the riverbeds at these places have not yet been auctioned this year, taking advantage of this, sand mafia groups have been carrying out their operation in conveyance with the local administrative officials.
Meanwhile, locals demanded immediate stopping of the illegal activity and auction of the ghats after obtaining due environment clearance after holding public hearing.
When contacted the Mahanga tehsildar did not utter a single word.
"If the administration fails to auction the riverbeds at the earliest then it should ensure raids on the illegal sand lifting activity at least," said a local.