Puri, July 2: Rampant illegal sand mining along the Bhargavi and Kushabhadra rivers in Nimapada region of Puri district in Odisha has triggered alarm among locals, who fear devastating floods and environmental degradation, locals said on Wednesday.

Despite repeated warnings and the absence of official leases, sand mafias continue to operate with impunity, allegedly under the nose of district mining officials and local administration, locals alleged.

According to the locals, over 15 unauthorized sand ghats are active across the two rivers, with hundreds of trucks transporting illegally mined sand each night. The operations are so brazen that flood embankments have been breached at more than ten locations, including Haripur, Balanga, Samarei Shasan, Gopinathpur, and Jagannathpur along the Bhargavi, and Denua, Dighala, Dhirapur, and Gopa along the Kushabhadra.

In some areas, mafias have even constructed makeshift roads by cutting through riverbanks and filling canals to facilitate truck movement. A particularly alarming case involves the construction of a 20-foot-wide road across the Balanga main canal, posing a direct threat to nearby villages if monsoon floods strike.

Residents have voiced strong concerns, demanding immediate closure of illegal ghats and urgent repair of damaged embankments before the onset of floods. “If the river swells, these breaches could lead to catastrophic flooding in low-lying areas,” warned a local villager.

Nimapada Tehsildar Manoj Kumar Pradhan has assured the public that action will be taken against the culprits. However, locals remain skeptical, citing years of unchecked activity and lack of enforcement.

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