Rising illegal sand mining activities have triggered widespread resentment among villagers in Atasahi under the Ghasipura block of Keonjhar district. Residents allege that the unchecked operations by sand mafia are not only damaging agricultural lands but also destroying vital rural infrastructure.

According to local sources, sand is being extracted illegally from the Kusei riverbed and transported using heavily loaded tractors and trucks. This illegal transportation has been ongoing for months, with little to no administrative intervention. Farmers report that the illegal mining has eroded fertile soil and rendered their farmland unfit for cultivation, directly impacting their livelihoods.

Furthermore, the movement of sand-laden vehicles through narrow village roads has deteriorated the

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