Keonjhar: Illegal stone mining has been rampant in almost all forests in Ghatagaon and Sadar blocks of this district even as the forest and revenue departments are in a dispute over categorisation of these forests – if the forests are reserved or revenue.
Several illegal stone crushing units are also operating in Gopalpur, Bhalughar, Kanjhari dam, Guhala Chatua, Ukutabeda and Balaniposi under these two blocks. Stone and murram mafia finds it easy to carry out the illegal activities in the absence of any action due to the dispute between the two departments.
On the other hand, wanton mining of minor minerals like stone and murram has led to fast depletion of forests, locals alleged. According to reports, 12 stone crushing units are operating in these areas. Locals claimed that the owners of these units have no land lease for stone quarrying and accused the administration of sitting pretty.
It is alleged the mafia prefers hilly and forested areas for stone quarrying to evade the administration’s attention. Quarry owners manage to convince the gullible people of the locality that they are the leaseholders of the area.
Locals alleged the mafia has the tacit patronage of local politicians while unscrupulous officials of the revenue and forest departments encourage the illegality for regular cuts.
They claimed as politicians are involved in the illegal activities, the administration fails to muster courage to act against the mafia. Local environmentalists expressed concern over the issue and observed that such eco-harming activities are going on under the very now of the officials of the forest and revenue departments.
They pointed out that crusher units have been causing environmental pollution by throwing all norms to the winds. “The crusher units are not using pollution control mechanisms and have no boundary walls around. They are supposed to make green belt around them, but this is not being done at all,” activists said.
Besides, the authorities of the Orissa State Pollution Control Board are taking no action against the illegal units, they said. The illegal stone quarrying has caused huge loss of revenue for the government over the years, apart from taking a heavy toll on forest resources.
Some people noted that if the government looks into the ongoing illegal mining loot, it will unearth illegality worth crores of rupees. Locals said the mineral loot and resultant deforestation has impacted water level in Kanjhari dam and the local wildlife.
Hundreds of sal trees have been cleared for quarrying in these areas. Local healer Harekrushna Mohant said illegal stone mining harms forests, wildlife and pollutes the environment. “Earlier, herbal plants and other medicinal trees were found aplenty in the forests, but they are gradually vanishing,” Mohant noted.
Keonjhar DFO Rohit Kumar Lenka said steps have been taken to curb illegal stone quarrying in reserve forests. In some areas, such illegal activities go in revenue forests and the matter has been intimated to the collector, he added.
The DFO said if the two departments carry out joint probe, then the modus operandi of the stone crushing units will come to light. PNN
