Jajpur: The state government ordered closure of all stone quarries on Dankari hill in Dharmasala block under this district after the Centre announced construction of a crude oil stockyard in the area.
A report regarding the establishment of an oil stockyard has spread cheers among villagers who have been agitating for long against heavy pollution emanating from the stone quarries most of whom are illegal.
The matter came to the fore when KD Tripathy, Union petroleum and natural gas secretary, wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi. Padhi on his part directed Jajpur collector to put in necessary efforts for establishment of the oil stockyard.
The stockyard of 44.4 million tonne capacity will be fourth in the country after Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan. A plan outlay of `5000 crore has been made for establishment of the stockyard which will employ over 500 people when fully functional.
The report has, however, sparked apprehensions among leaseholders over closure of 20 stone quarries. As a result, the state government has to pay back over `14 crore to the leaseholders who had deposited the money on various heads like royalty for five years, environmental clearance and district mineral fund (DMF).
The money will be returned after the district administration makes an assessment of the exact quantity of the stones extracted from the quarries since the start of the lease period and informs the state government accordingly, sources said.
Sources said women of Dankari village have been agitating against stone quarrying for two months now due to heavy pollution emanating from quarrying.
Pollution has hit their lives and livelihoods as fine particles of dust can be found floating in the air and polluting water bodies and farmlands.
In its bid to quell protest, the Jenapur police arrested five persons and produced them in court at night. A case against illegal quarrying is still pending in the high court.
The spread of the illegal quarrying can be gauged from the fact that the district administration recently directed leaseholders to pay an additional `58 crore towards rampant quarrying carried out on the hill since last 13 years. In this context, the Centre’s move to establish a crude oil stockyard in the area has brought relief to the villagers.
When contacted, sub-collector Maheshwar Panigrahi confirmed the development stating that the district administration has received an order to acquire land and close down the quarries for establishment of an oil stockyard. After receiving the order, the district administration has started making preparations, he added. PNN
