Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has imposed and collected a penalty of ₹40.73 crore as part of its enforcement drive to curb illegal mining of minor minerals across the state, informed Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena in the Odisha Assembly on Thursday.
Between April 2024 and February 2025, the state conducted 3,123 raids, resulting in the collection of the hefty penalty. The highest amount—₹5.96 crore—was recovered from the Bhadrak Mining Circle, followed by ₹3.87 crore from the Cuttack Mining Circle.
In response to a query from Jeypore Congress legislator Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the Minister provided a written reply detailing the enforcement activities.
Additionally, addressing another query from Barabati-Cuttack Congress legislator Sofia Firdous, Jena revealed that ₹10.13 crore was collected in the 2023-24 fiscal year as part of efforts to curb illegal sand transportation.
Cuttack district led in penalty collections with ₹1.34 crore, followed by Jajpur district at ₹1.16 crore. These fines were imposed to prevent fraudulent transportation of minerals using fake transit passes.
The Minister outlined several steps taken by the government to monitor and regulate sand extraction from auctioned sites:
Close Surveillance: A robust monitoring system, including CCTV surveillance and information boards, has been implemented at extraction sites to ensure compliance.
e-Transit Pass System: A time-bound, single-trip e-Transit Pass system has been introduced to enhance transparency and track daily transportation activities.
Strict Penalties: Heavy fines are being imposed on individuals found using fake e-Transit Passes, in line with National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines.
Transportation Regulations: As per an order by the Orissa High Court in response to a PIL, sand transportation is permitted only between 9 PM and 7 AM.
Regulatory Committees: District-level task forces, sub-divisional committees, and tehsil-level committees have been formed to prevent illegal excavation and transportation of minor minerals.
