Joda: Illegal extraction of granite stone in parts of Joda area in Keonjhar district is rampant, causing huge loss of revenue to the state government’s exchequer.
A huge stock of granite boulders found at Bachu hutting under Barbil tehsil is a pointer to such illegal activities.
An investigation by this reporter found that stone is being extracted from a quarry at Kaliaprasad under Barbil tehsil and supplied to Tata Steel. The stones are used for making a slurry dam which is under construction at Joda.
Asked about the illegal mining, Barbil tehdildar Arun Kumar Mallick said he will have the matter investigated by Joda revenue inspector. Following an instruction from the tehsildar Monday, Joda revenue inspector Tarinisen Patra visited Bachu hutting and investigated the matter.
It was learnt that Jogendra Parida was stockpiling stones at the place. The revenue inspector checked various documents and other papers related to the stone stockpiling. Patra stated that stocking stone is illegal. But Patra did not take any action against a dumper transporting stone from the stockyard to the dam site.
Taking no action against the dumper during investigation has raised eyebrows.
It was learnt that hours after the investigation, Parida was spotted shifting the stones to somewhere else instead of the slurry dam.
When contacted, Sunil Kumar Sahu, corporate communication officer of Tata Steel, said he would inform the matter to his higher-ups.
It may be noted here that hundreds of truckloads of illegal sand is being supplied to the slurry dam about which a report was published in Oriya daily Dharitri May 28. The administration, during an investigation, had found a huge stock of sand. The officials then said that investigation was on. Later, it was learnt that no action was taken in this direction. PNN