Orissa HC bans use of machines for quarrying sand in Odisha from tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: Orissa High Court in Cuttack today clamped a ban on the quarrying of sand by using machines in Odisha. The order will strictly be enforced from tomorrow, the court emphasised.

High Court ordered during the hearing of a petition previously filed against sand quarries seeking the court’s intervention and putting a ban, thereby preventing pollution as well as the loss of revenue.

Sand-laden vehicles will not be allowed to ply between 7.00 AM and 9.00 PM. Strong actions will be taken against wrongdoers for any violation of prescribed norms while quarrying the minor mineral in Odisha.

The State government submitted an affidavit before the court stating what steps have been taken so far to prevent pollution and the loss of revenue, prosecution lawyer Sukanta Kumar Dalai said mediapersons.