In a continued crackdown on illegal extraction of minor minerals, the Odisha government has collected ₹27.4 crore in penalties up to September of the 2025–26 financial year, according to data presented in the state assembly. The enforcement drive, targeting violations related to the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016, and environmental norms, reflects the administration’s ongoing effort to curb rampant illegal sand mining and strengthen revenue protection measures.
Announcing the figures Steel and Mines minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena informed the assembly that “Odisha govt collected Rs 27.4 crore penalty up to Sept this financial year from violators of the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016, and environmental laws for illegal extraction of minor minerals like sand.”
Jena said that "a penalty of Rs 48.4 crore was collected in the 2024-25 financial year." He stated that the district administrations along with the revenue officials, mining enforcement units, forest personnel, and police authorities have stepped up their field-level surveillance, vehicle checks, and targeted raids to stop the illegal movement and extraction of sand and other minor minerals.
The minister confirmed very strong enforcement to be the reason for a total of 4,426 government-conducted raids in the 2024–25 period. The minister's statement indicates that by September 2025 another 2,592 operations had already been carried out, thus, reflecting a fierce crackdown in the first half of the current fiscal year.
The seizure of vehicles also plays a role in the large-scale crackdown on illegal mining and transportation of minerals. Jena informed the assembly that 4,676 vehicles were seized in 2024–25, and there was also a seizure of 3,866 vehicles by September 2025. They are tractors, trucks, tippers, and excavators which, as per the information, were used in unauthorized sand lifting operations at riverbeds and areas under leases.
The district enforcement results were mirrored in the revenue divisions with many of them showing the collection of the penalty as their strong point:
- In 2024–25, Balasore was leading the ranking with ₹7.17 crore, followed by Mayurbhanj (₹5.21 crore), Rayagada (₹4.52 crore), and Cuttack (₹4.31 crore).
- In 2025–26 (until September), Keonjhar had become the top collector with ₹5 crore, followed by Balasore (₹3.58 crore), Jajpur (₹2.95 crore), and Koraput (₹2.1 crore).
Comparing the two years’ data side by side, one can see that both the coastal and tribal districts continue to be the areas where illegal sand lifting is most prevalent, which, according to the author, is caused by the building sector, the expansion of infrastructure, and the high demand for riverbed sand.
Interestingly, despite the crackdown, Jena told the assembly that “no case of river erosion due to illegal sand extraction has been received.” To tighten surveillance, the state government has significantly expanded the use of digital and remote monitoring tools. Jena said the government has introduced GPS-based demarcation of mining lease areas, along with pillar postings to clearly mark boundaries and prevent unauthorized entry into protected zones.
He added that “CCTVs have been installed at sand sources, and drone surveys are conducted in areas where excessive sand excavation is suspected.”
Lessees are obligated to maintain buffer zones along the rivers and set up safety zones where mining is banned thereby ensuring the environment stays balanced and the probability of riverbank erosion decreases.
The minister said that the state is taking very severe measures against the seizure of machinery, vehicles, and implements that are used for illegal mining. Besides that, penalties are also being imposed very strictly. The multi-tier enforcement framework has been established by Odisha at the district level through task forces, sub-divisional committees, and tehsil-level monitoring teams. The teams comprise officials from the revenue, mining, forest, and police departments.
The local authorities and the team members also meet frequently to review the enforcement measures and to find solutions to the problems that keep coming up.
In order to bring about transparency in the minor mineral movements, Odisha is giving out e-transit passes through the i4MS software. It facilitates the real-time monitoring of mineral transportation. This digital system is intended to prevent unauthorized vehicle movements with better tracking system.
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