Continuous enforcement by the Mineral Department sends a strong message against illegal mining and transportation across the state.
TFP Bureau, Raipur, May 18, 2026: Acting under the strict directives of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, the Mineral Department has intensified its drive against illegal mining, transportation, and storage of sand across the state. As part of the State Government’s zero-tolerance policy, departmental teams are conducting continuous operations to curb such activities.
Officials informed that personnel of the department are maintaining round-the-clock vigilance, deploying modern technologies including drones, along with night patrolling, intensive monitoring, surprise inspections, and raids to effectively control illegal mining-related activities.
Following instructions from the Secretary of the Mineral Resources Department and the Director, the Central Mineral Flying Squad, along with a district-level joint team, carried out a surprise inspection at village Kagdehi under Arang tehsil. During the operation, authorities discovered an illegal stockpile of ordinary sand, a minor mineral, being stored without valid permits along the Samoda–Kagdehi route near the forest nursery located south of Arya Petrol Pump.
After confirming violations of the Chhattisgarh Mineral (Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2009, officials initiated action under Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. During the operation, approximately 1,740 cubic meters of illegally stored sand were seized.
The seized sand has been handed over to Devendra Kumar Sahu, a councillor of the Samoda Nagar Panchayat, for safekeeping. In addition, during the intensive inspection drive, authorities also seized two Hyva trucks involved in the illegal transportation of sand near village Samoda. Both vehicles have been impounded and kept at the premises of the Arang Police Station.
