Bhubaneswar, 4 December (H.S.): The Odisha government has intensified its crackdown on illegal minor mineral mining and transportation, collecting fines amounting to ₹126 crore between 2022 and October 2025. The information was shared by Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena in a written reply to the State Assembly on Thursday.
The Minister stated that the government has generated ₹655 crore in revenue from minor minerals in the current financial year up to September. As part of its enforcement measures, authorities have carried out 15,187 seizures across all 30 districts to curb illegal transportation and extraction activities. During this period, a total of 3,219 cases related to illegal mining were registered, resulting in fines worth ₹126.51 crore.
The Mines Department has identified eleven tehsils—Dharmashala, Jharsuguda, Pipili, Tangi, Marshaghai, Barang, Kanihal, Jaleswar, Hindol, Purushottampur and Raghunathpur—as hotspots for illegal sand mining. Among these, Hindol, Purushottampur and Raghunathpur have recorded the highest number of minor mineral theft incidents, prompting the government to strengthen surveillance and enforcement in these areas.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
