Bhubaneswar, Nov. 3 -- The alleged illegal trade in minerals and industrial by-products seems to have resurfaced in Odisha's Paradip. Locals have once again raised concerns over the unauthorised storage and transportation of coal, pet coke, sand and gypsum in the area.

A suspected stockyard was reportedly set up at an isolated location near Nimidi PDA Colony under Paradip Lock police station limits in Jagatsinghpur district. According to locals, hundreds of bags of coal and expensive pet coke were stored at the site for illegal transportation.

The alleged racket is not limited to coal and pet coke, as the residents have also accused those involved of illegally lifting sand and gypsum from the under-construction National Highway-53 and s...