Ganjam Admin To Initiate Strict Action Against Smuggling Of Minor Minerals

Chatrapur: Ganjam Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida has asked the district officials to initiate strict action against those involved in illegal smuggling of minor minerals in the district. Chairing a review meeting of the District Revenue officials, the Collector has asked them to take steps to increase the revenue from minor minerals. He also instructed them to deal with the illegal smugglers with a iron hand. The vehicles transporting illegal sand, stones, Moorum etc must be seized and hefty penalty should be imposed so that others would not indulge in illegal smuggling, the Collector said.

During the review, it was informed that till date, during the current year, 584 illegal vehicles engaged in transpirtation of minor minerals were seized and a fine of Rs 1 Crore 93 lakh has been collected in the Chatrapur Sub division. Likewise, in Berhampur Sub division, 922 vehicles have been seized and a fine of Rs 1 Crore 47 lakhs have been collected. In Bhanjanagar, the officials have seized 520 vehicles and imposed a fine of Rs 85 lakhs.

Speaking to the Tahasildars present, Collector Dibyajyoti Parida has asked them to speed up the land related settlement issues on a priority basis. He also asked the officials to complete the land acquisition process of various projects being implemented in the district. He also reviewed the revenue collections from the Excise, Transport and other departments.

The meeting was attended by ZP Chief Development Officer Keerthivasan V, ADM Priya Ranjan Prusty, Chhatrapur Sub-Collector Prasanna Patra, Bhanjanagar Sub-collector Jyoti Rai, Excise Superintendent, all Tahasildars, officials from the Excise Department, Transport Department and other senior officials.