Arwal: The Bihar government has intensified its crackdown on illegal sand mining and stockpiling, with the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) seizing around 1.32 lakh cubic feet of illegally stored sand worth an estimated ₹1.63 crore in Arwal district.
The action was carried out on August 19 and 20, 2026, with the EOU team working alongside officials from the Mining Department, local police and district administration.
₹1.63 crore worth of sand seized at Koriyam
During the inspection, officials detected a large quantity of illegally stockpiled sand at the secondary storage site of the Koriyam sand ghat.
A total of approximately 132,000 cubic feet of sand was seized. Officials estimated its market value at around ₹1.63 crore.
The operation forms part of the state government’s wider effort to prevent illegal extraction, transportation and storage of sand during the off-season.
Drone mapping carried out at 7 sand ghats
The EOU operation extended beyond Koriyam. Officials inspected secondary loading and storage sites at seven sand ghats in Arwal district, including Koriyam, Aslampur, Dullah, Ahiyapur and Sohsa.
Physical verification of stockpiled sand was conducted in coordination with the Mining Department. Authorities also carried out GIS and drone mapping of the sites.
The drone-generated data will now be compared with ground-level inspection findings. Officials will analyse the data to determine whether there are discrepancies or evidence of illegal mining, transportation or stockpiling.
Special monitoring during sand mining off-season
The government has stepped up surveillance during the sand mining off-season, which runs from June 15 to October 15.
According to officials, illegal operators may extract sand from riverbeds during this period and stockpile it for subsequent sale, potentially causing losses to government revenue and violating mining regulations.
A special team has been constituted under the direction of the Additional Director General of Police, Economic Offences Unit, Bihar, with operations being led by the Superintendent of Police (Administration).
The team is conducting inspections in coordination with the Mining Department, police and district administrations.
More districts under EOU surveillance
The crackdown is not limited to Arwal. The EOU is also investigating suspected illegal sand stockpiling and trading activities in other districts of Bihar.
Authorities are identifying locations where sand may have been illegally extracted or stored during the off-season. Further action is expected if inspections and drone-based assessments establish violations.
The government has said illegal sand mining and unauthorised stockpiling can cause both environmental damage and revenue losses to the state.
The findings from the latest drone and GIS surveys could lead to further investigations and legal action against individuals found involved in illegal sand-related activities.
