Jajpur: The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has asked District Collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore to probe into illegal mining of black stones beyond permissible limits as well as smuggling in Dharmasala tehsil area of Jajpur district as per EPA Act-1986, sources informed Tuesday. The member secretary of SEIAA has urged the Collector to treat the matter urgently and take immediate action and submit a report before it, in a letter dated August 31, 2023. The matter assumes significance after villagers in Dharmasala tehsil filed a petition before SEIAA alleging excess mining and smuggling of black stones. They alleged that the district administration has not been prompt enough in issuing show-cause notices and imposing fines on errant companies.
Reports said that the allegation of excess stone mining has been proved correct during the satellite mapping of mines in Dharmasala tehsil. Directions have been issued to collect Rs 320 crore in penalties from 22 leaseholders who have plundered the mines. Meanwhile, the leaseholders have moved the court in protest against the penalty notice. While the hearing is underway the accused have resorted to mining and smuggling of stones during night to avoid getting caught during the day, locals pointed out.
Sources said looting of minor minerals like black stones beyond permissible limits has become common in Dharmasala tehsil. They alleged that the smuggling of black stones is being carried out in association with the Revenue and Tehsil department officials in this district. Locals pointed out that in the past official action had been initiated against 10 sub-collectors and tehsildars, but nothing has come out of it. The Odisha government ordered satellite mapping of the stone quarries after the issue was raised in the Assembly. The satellite mapping started April 2022 and after that, a penalty notice was issued against the violators. Sources said the Dharmasala tehsil office has issued show cause notices to the defaulting leaseholders 11 times.
However, by using their political clout, the defaulters have managed to escape punishment. Things have come to such a stage that the district administration has not even written to the SEIAA to withdraw the environmental clearance of leaseholders who are violating the rules. Sources said that if steps are taken for withdrawal of environmental clearances then the leases of Srinivas Jena, Biswa Parida and Sudhanshu Jena of Bajabati black stone mines, Manoj Samal and Sarat Jena of Aruha hill, Jyotshna Jena of Dankari hill, Krushna Chandra Sahu of Anjira hill, Gangadhar Ojha and Rangadhar Jena of Lunibar hill and Akshaya Parida of Rahadpur hill will be cancelled.
Locals also pointed out that the unholy nexus between leaseholders, politicians, and some officials of the district administration is a big hindrance to stopping smuggling. Such is the situation in which leaseholders use explosives with impunity at night to extract black stones. They are even threatening the complainants and pressurising them to withdraw the allegations. In the process, the Odisha government is losing out on a huge amount of revenue. Efforts to contact Dharmasala tehsildar Swagat Das failed as he did not respond to repeated calls on his mobile.
