Ranpur: Illegal miners have become active in Ranpur tehsil in Nayagarh district. Although the government has not given any environmental clearance for mining in this area and the district administration has not held any auction for laterite mining, the illegal mining of laterite stones is going on here.
The illegal mining is being done in dead mine areas under the very nose of the local administration. After getting complaints, the tehsil authorities conduct raids and take some nominal steps against the illegal miners.
However, the government and the local administration are unable to stop the illegal mining in the absence of strong action and heavy penalties. The government is obviously losing revenue worth crores of rupees.
There are reports that there is a nexus between departmental officials, local politicians and mining firms. There are 46 stone mines in Ranpur tehsil limits and around 200 laterite mines are operating in the region.
Some of the major laterite stone mines are in Jankia, Katak, Srikrushnapur, Brindaban Biharipur, Narsinghpur, Patia, Gopalpur, Jalahari, Rajasunakhala, Kotagarh, Kotanisila, Bechhapuri Koilama, Nilapalli, Dala, Bada Pathuria, Lakhapada, Nagajhara, Kaipalli, Chaparikoilama, Kerandatangi, Ramabeli, Pampada, Ekatala, Champagarh, Mayurajhalia and Boraberajhar.
Earlier, the revenue department was getting revenue of around Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh per mine every year. However, after 2014, there was no auction of laterite mines in the tehsil as there were no more laterite stones in the mines.
Illegal miners are now mining from pastures, cashew gardens and private agricultural fields.
In 2018, on behalf of the Ranpur tehsil office, many laterite stone mines and transport vehicles were seized. Around Rs 20 lakh was collected as penalty and around 100 cases were filed against those involved.
In spite of all this, department officials have failed to stop the illegal mining of laterite.
In half the mines in Ranpur tehsil, pits of around 15 to 20 meters depth have been dug for mining using heavy machines, and it is continuing in broad daylight.
The miners are not bothering to fill the holes with sand, and this is leading to degradation of the land.