Sundargarh, Apr 4: The Odisha government has turned its focus on coal mafias in Sundargarh after successfully clamping down on illegal sand mining activities.

Years of unchecked coal theft have prompted authorities to take decisive action, with police and forest officials conducting raids on illegal coal mines in the Hemgiri area.

Following reports of coal theft in Gopalpur, Sundargarh district administration, police, and forest department officials have launched operations in reserved forest areas like Kulapada, Dehing, and Telenadihi.

Sundargarh's Sub-Collector Dasarathi Sarabu, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Nirmal Mahapatra, Sundargarh Tahasildar Kulamani Ranabida, Hemgiri Forest Range Officer Prakash Chandra Nayak, along with police forces, are spearheading the initiative.

Raids have uncovered hundreds of unauthorized coal mines where tons of coal were being excavated and sold illegally.

These illegal operations had been running for years, with coal transported out of the state to destinations like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Coal mafia networks reportedly rake in billions through clandestine trade, exploiting government resources and forest lands. The scale of the operations has left authorities and locals astonished.

The ongoing crackdown aims to dismantle these mafia networks and preserve valuable natural resources. The involvement of top administrative and law enforcement officials signals the government's serious commitment to addressing this issue.

read more Odisha news