Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty on Monday admitted to rampant smuggling of minor mineral resources in the state.

"Yes, the allegation about smuggling of minor minerals such as sand, morrum and stones in the state is true. Due to shortage of manpower, the department has failed to check the theft of minor mineral resources," said the minister during the Question Hour on Monday.

Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said: "The minister admitted that his department was not able to check the smuggling due to manpower crunch. Does that mean that the revenue department will sit pretty with its finger crossed? Why is not he taking the help of the police to curb the menace?"

The minister said the department had decided to engage 100 Odisha Industrial Security Force (OISF) personnel for the purpose. Mohanty said ten smuggling-prone tehsils had been identified where OISF personnel would be deployed to curb smuggling.

The minister said that raids were being conducted by the squads or task forces constituted at the district, sub-division and tehsil levels. Fines up to Rs 5 lakh were being collected from those indulged in minor mineral smuggling and the vehicles and equipment being used in transport of such minerals were being seized. Under the Odisha Minor Minerals Rules, there has been provision for levy of fine, imprisonment of up to two years or both, for the offenders. The enforcement of the law is being affected due to manpower crunch and mafia assault .

The state collected revenue of Rs 1,760.30 crore in 2017-18 from minor minerals as compared to Rs 2,293.89 crore in 2016-17, he told the House.