Will there be no end to this farce?

It is deeply concerning that illegal sand extraction continues unabated inside the Ramgarh-Sitakunda Reserve Forest despite repeated enforcement drives by the Forest Department. According to a report by this daily, authorities conducted at least 21 raids between June 2025 and May 2026, seizing excavators, dredgers, trucks, and more than 1,07,000 cubic feet of illegally extracted sand, while arresting six people. Unfortunately, these drives have failed to stop the illegal trade, as the miners return to the same areas soon after the raids. This shows that the authorities’ approach has failed to make any lasting impact.

This woodland, spanning more than 84,000 acres at Ramgarh-Sitakunda, was recorded as a reserve forest in 1893. It serves as a vital watershed, wildlife habitat, and ecological buffer and is home to dozens of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and trees. Any damage to this ecosystem has consequences far beyond the immediate area, affecting biodiversity, water resources, and the livelihoods of surrounding communities. Forest streams are not just channels carrying water; they play a vital role in sustaining vegetation, recharging groundwater, and supporting wildlife. Altering their natural course through indiscriminate sand extraction can cause long-term environmental damage that may take decades to repair.

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What is particularly alarming is that the illegal operations appear to be highly organised. According to local residents, dredgers operate under the cover of darkness, while members of the network monitor the movement of officials and warn miners before raids. There are also allegations that some forest guards leak information about enforcement drives and that sand-laden trucks pass through checkpoints after paying small bribes. One local political leader even admitted his involvement, saying many others were engaged in the same activity. All this suggests that illegal sand mining continues because of collusion, political influence, and weak accountability.

The government must therefore move beyond periodic crackdowns and adopt a more effective strategy. Law enforcers should identify and prosecute not only those extracting the sand but also those financing the trade, transporting the material, and purchasing it. Allegations of corruption within the Forest Department must be investigated impartially, and officials found facilitating these crimes should face strict disciplinary and legal action. Authorities should also strengthen surveillance in vulnerable areas, improve coordination among the Forest Department, police, and local administration, and ensure that environmental offences are prosecuted swiftly and effectively. The government must show political will, strengthen accountability, and dismantle the criminal networks behind this organised looting.