In Jaleswar, Odisha, the illegal extraction of sand by smugglers from West Bengal persists, despite numerous complaints from local residents and extensive media attention. This ongoing issue has been highlighted following a satellite survey aimed at establishing the border with the neighboring state.

The blatant theft of resources was evident when six earthmovers were observed excavating sand, which was then loaded onto hundreds of trucks for transport to West Bengal from the Guagadia and Praharajpur areas.

To facilitate this illicit operation, a temporary wooden bridge has been constructed, allowing smugglers to transport sand across the Subarnarekha River without attracting regulatory scrutiny. Locals have expressed frustration, noting that despite their complaints and media coverage, the activities of the Bengal mafia show no signs of diminishing.

In response to the situation, a joint border inspection was carried out on March 4, directed by the Balasore Collector, to clarify the boundary between Sonakonia in West Bengal and Dakshin Praharajpur in Odisha. The inspection included Balasore's Additional District Magistrate Hemanta Singh, a representative from the Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC), Nalini Kanta Jena, and Jaleswar tehsildar Satyajit Mohanty, along with officials from the West Bengal administration.

During the inspection, satellite images and photographs were captured to aid in the demarcation process. However, illegal sand extraction remains rampant.

Reports suggest that the sand smuggled from Odisha is transported daily to Haldia in West Bengal, where it is repackaged and sent to Bangladesh. Local residents have pointed out that the owners of unauthorized brick kilns in the Praharajpur area are key players in this smuggling operation.

Residents have repeatedly called for a clear demarcation of the interstate boundary to help stop these illegal activities. When reached for comment, the Additional District Magistrate acknowledged the issue, stating, “We are investigating the matter and have assigned a central team to take further action.”