Subarnarekha River faces threat from illegal sand mining and violence

Illegal sand mining in the Subarnarekha River is causing severe environmental and social consequences in Odisha’s Baleshwar district. The extraction, reportedly involving hundreds of trucks daily transporting sand to West Bengal, is altering the river's course and causing extensive bank erosion. This has left numerous villages in the Jaleswar, Basta, Baliapal, and Bhograi blocks at risk of being swallowed by the river, resulting in the loss of land and property for local residents.

Despite a 2017 National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive to halt illegal extraction, residents allege that authorities, including the Mines, Police, and Revenue departments, have failed to curb the activity. Tensions escalated on Sunday morning at the Chandaneswar-Sahabajipur border road when local youths attempted to intercept sand-laden vehicles. The confrontation turned violent, leaving a BJP youth leader and another individual critically injured after being assaulted by the drivers.

In response to the unrest and public outrage, the Jaleswar Sub-Divisional Police Officer has initiated an investigation and promised to deploy 24-hour police patrols at the border to restore order and address the smuggling network.