Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance has seized equipment, vehicles and materials worth over Rs 17 lakh during raids on a stone quarry in Jajpur and a sawmill in Cuttack.
Following reliable information regarding the illegal laterite stone quarry at Batabara village under Byree police station in Jajpur district, a joint forest raid was conducted by the Forest Wing of Odisha Vigilance.
During the raid, one truck and 3 power tiller machines along with fresh cut laterite stones were seized. Vigilance has registered three cases in this connection in Dalijoda Range under Cuttack Forest Division for violation of Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rule-2016.
In another operation on an illegal sawmill at Mouda village under Mahanga police station in Cuttack district, sawmill accessories along with 32.27 cft of valuable timber were seized.
The sawmill was running without any valid licence, violating the Orissa Sawmill and Sawpit (Control) Act-1991. In this connection, the Vigilance has registered a case in Dalijoda Range under Cuttack Forest Division.
The value of seized sawmill accessories, vehicles, minor minerals and timbers was estimated to be Rs 17,27,090.
