Jaleswar, Feb 27: Tension flared at a public hearing on the Sheksarai (A) sand quarry in Jaleswar Tehsil after a clash erupted between the villagers and some senior officials.

According to reports, a public hearing was convened by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board over the Sheksarai (A) sand quarry in Jaleswar Tehsil.

The quarry, located under Mohammad Nagar Patana Panchayat, was originally auctioned in 2015. However, despite the auction, no sand extraction has taken place in the last decade. This raised questions among locals, who demanded clarity from the administration on why a hearing was being held after such a long gap.

Officials including Additional District Magistrate Hemant Singh, DSP Manas Kumar Deo, and Jaleswar Tehsildar Satyajit Mohanty were present during the proceedings.

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Witnesses reported that tensions erupted when the villagers raised strong objections and concerns about environmental impact and administrative transparency. 

Following the incident, one several people sustained minor injuries.

The Pollution Control Board had organised the hearing to seek public opinion on the quarry’s operations. However, the unrest highlighted deep mistrust among residents, who remain skeptical about the revival of sand mining in the area.