Jajpur: A ‘competition’ has started between the leaseholders of quarries and mafias to plunder black granites from the hills under Dharmasala tehsil in Jajpur district, sources said Monday. The sources informed that usually, a particular amount is allowed for extraction during a five-year lease period. However, it appears that the two groups want to extract the entire amount within 12 months.
Sources said that this rampant extraction is happening due to the lackadaisical attitude of the tehsil officials. Taking advantage of the inept attitude both groups are plundering black granite stones with impunity. Sources said that the leaseholders are also allegedly extracting black stones from hills that have not been leased out to them. The plundering of black granite from Quarry No 34/2021-22 on Aruha hill is a case in point. The quarry has been leased out to Manoj Samal. He has been allowed to extract 70,000 cubic metres of black stones in five years.
However, he has already extracted 1,08,000 cubic metres in nine months only. The matter came to the fore during satellite mapping of the quarry held March 11. Apprised of the wrongdoing, the tehsil administration issued a show-cause to the leaseholder, April 15. Residents alleged that the quarry should be closed down as per rules in the environmental clearance (EC) and consent to operate (CTO) documents.
However, so far no action has been taken against Samal, they alleged. Locals said that the tehsil officials have the impression that their job is over once they issue show-cause notices. After that, they never follow up. Locals said they have lodged complaints against Samal with the tehsildar but their pleas are yet to be addressed. They said that without the cooperation of senior officials, Samal wouldn’t have been able to carry out the extraction in such a brazen manner. Samal meanwhile is on ‘mission mode’ to extract as much black granite as he can as he apprehends that his lease may be terminated.
Sources said that the Odisha government had collected a penalty of Rs 19.86 crore from 14 districts towards illegal extraction and looting of minor minerals than the prescribed limit and mineral transportation and sale without transit form by March 2022. However, the penalty amount is quite meagre in comparison to the extraction of minerals in Jajpur, Bolangir, Bhadrak, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Khurda, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Nuapada districts. They added that officials only acted after reports of illegal extraction appeared in Orissa POST and questions were raised in the state Assembly. Only after a hue and cry were raised, did the district administration get active. It then conducted satellite mapping of the quarries and issued notices to collect penalties from the accused leaseholders. The frequent use of explosives has irked residents of the area. They alleged that the revenue inspector, tehsildar and even the collector are aware of the developments, but are silent on the issue.
Sources said that since the notice was served to Samal in April, he has already extracted more than 15,000 cubic metres of black stone. It has also been alleged that Samal has encroached on the area of another leaseholder, Trinath Jena. The latter, however, has not lodged any complaint as he is also guilty of illegal extraction and has been imposed a fine of Rs 10 crore. Efforts to contact Dharmasala tehsildar Swagat Das failed as he did not respond to repeated calls
