Bhubaneswar: Residents of Naibuga village under Jhumpura tehsil in Keonjhar district have accused mining companies of flouting several laws and destroying their living space while threatening to stage a protest in the capital.
Raya Munda, an Adivasi from the village, said that MSTP Mohanty Iron and Manganese Mines Company was exploiting the protected lands illegally and violating mining laws of the state. He alleged that minerals are transported through the area every day. The company is even constructing roads in the Champua area which is a clear violation of the law, he said. He also said that the road construction would lead to rampant mining which would ruin the environment.
He said that forests and lands, which are protected by several legislations, are being exploited by mining companies. This destroys the aesthetic appeal of the land and also ruins our households, he added.
He also said that road construction was being carried out even in lands taken on lease by the Odisha Mineral Commission.
Munda said that he and his family along with others have been protesting since last year. However, the authorities have failed to take any action, he said. The company has not even provided any employment for our people, he added. He said that they have submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Chief Minister’s office.
Notably, the Odisha High Court had directed a civil judge (senior division) to probe the matter June 25. The civil judge had directed the company to stop the road construction. However, the construction work is still going on.