Berhampur: Ganjam district administration has brought prohibitory orders in at least 16 places under four tehsils to restrict illegal extraction of minor minerals from the areas.Restriction was imposed in the plots under Chikiti, Kanishi, Kukudakhandi and Sanakhemundi tehsils after joint inspections found illegal mining of minor minerals like sand, stone, morum (gravelly soil) in the areas, said Avinash Kumar, sub-collector, Berhampur, on Monday.He said the order would be in force for the next two months. “We have already instructed the local administration to take stringent action if any person is found to be involved in illegal mining activities by defying prohibitory orders,” said Kumar.Illegal mining of minor minerals is not only a loss to govt revenue, but such activities are likely to create law and order problems in the area, he said. “We appealed to locals from respective areas to cooperate with the administration and maintain peace in the area and to protect govt properties,” Kumar added.On Thursday, police had seized 15 trucks from Mangalpur ghat area for illegal extraction of sand from the Rushikulya river bed.
