Sand smuggling at a massive scale in the restricted area of the Paradip Port violating CRZ Act has been going on with the authorities virtually shutting their eyes to it.
Although the sand lifting is done in broad daylight, the State Government machinery is silent. About 10 to 15 ships are coming to and going from the Paradip Port harbour every day. The waterways used by these ships are dredged and sands are lifted and supplied to meet the needs of the agencies having commercial relations with the port.
The concerned organisations are paying money to the port authority for the sand and they have obtained permission of the State Government as well. But undue advantage of the permission is taken.
While there is permission to dredge sand of 4 to 6 truckloads per day, sand of 130 to 150 truckloads are being lifted and 14 hyva trucks have been engaged for the purpose. There is a general demand for an immediate ban on the illegal activities.