Jajpur: Leaseholders have allegedly found a new way to plunder black stones from mines in Dharmasala block of Jajpur district after the Odisha government slapped a penalty of Rs 320 crore on errant miners in various phases following satellite mapping, sources said here Tuesday. Instead of the illegal lifting of black stones, it is now occurring in a far more rampant manner. In a bid to escape satellite mapping and fines, the leaseholders are looting black stones worth crores from mines that have been shut down and are not within their lease areas.
Moreover, some leaseholders, who have been penalised are allegedly smuggling large quantities of black stones without any proper transit pass. The broad daylight loot is taking place in five quarries on Aruha hill under Dharmasala block sources alleged. Sources said that penalty worth Rs 19.86 crore was collected from errant miners in 14 districts by March, 2022 on charges of excess mining than the permissible limits and its transportation and sale without transit passes. However, the collection of fines was quite disappointing in Jajpur and 15 other districts. The district administration decided to conduct satellite mapping of the lease areas and issued notices to collect penalties from the errant leaseholders after the matter was raised in the state Assembly and publication of media reports.
The steps taken by the district administration had a huge impact as many influential and prominent leaseholders who were penalised were denied any further lease of the mines. Yet looting continues unabated. The rampant loot of black stones from Aruha Hill is a case in point. Leaseholder Trinath Jena was slapped with a penalty of Rs 10 crore for mining black stones from three quarries on the hill, more than the permissible limits. Another leaseholder Manoj Samal was slapped with a fine of Rs 8.63 crore for extracting black stones more than he was allowed to do so. Leaseholder, Sarat Jena was slapped with a penalty of Rs 1.88 crore on charges of excess mining. It should also be stated that the lease agreements of Jena and Samal had expired when they were fined.
Despite the non-renewal of lease, Jena allegedly continues to extract black stones worth crores on a daily basis. He is also transporting it without proper documents, said sources. They also pointed out that there are many whose lease terms have expired, but still continue to plunder black stones.
They added that the rampant plundering is taking place in connivance with tehsil and Mines department officials. When contacted, Jayprakash Nayak, deputy director of the Minor Minerals department said that 92 out of 198 quarries in the district have been given on lease. He said that the department is failing to stop illegal mining due to a lack of staff. He however, added that steps will soon be taken against illegal miners.
