Boinda: Rampant destruction of hills for morrum mining under Boinda revenue circle in Angul district has not only caused wanton damage to the local environment, as the summer has gradually become unbearable, but also pushed the remaining hills into the brink of extinction. Locals observe that temperature is rising in summer due to extensive deforestation through hill-cutting.
Now, illegal soil and morrum mines have put the remaining hills in jeopardy, particularly in Kishorenagar block. Reports indicate that hills in Bileinali, Jamujhari, Kadalimunda, Jamunali, Nunukapashi, Kamarei, Gaon Boinda, Baninali and Nakichi villages – under Handapa police station—are being excavated at night. The demand for morrum has surged due to ongoing road construction and expansion projects in the region. It is alleged that contractors, in collusion with some Revenue and Forest department officials, are illegally using JCB machines to extract morrum and transport it via heavy vehicles. The deforestation due to illegal mining is causing the loss of valuable trees such as teak, eucalyptus, and sal. These logs are reportedly being smuggled out in high-end vehicles.
In 2020-21, Boinda Revenue department imposed fines amounting to Rs 4,89,691 for illegal morrum transportation. The next year, penalties rose to Rs 5.3 lakh. Despite these measures, the mining mafia continues to extract and transport soil and morrum from government land and hills, while authorities allegedly fail to act in a timely manner. Villagers from Jamunali and other affected areas have accused the Revenue officials of accepting bribes from contractors, allowing unchecked hill-cutting. Though five hills in Jamunali panchayat have so far been levelled for morrum extraction by a contractor, no significant action was taken yet. Similarly, in the protected forest area of Kadalimunda, illegal morrum excavation continues under the cover of darkness and despite repeated complaints by locals at Boinda Revenue Office, no action is being taken, the locals alleged. Residents of Nunukapashi have also alleged inaction by the Forest and Revenue departments, allowing the mafia to continue their operations unhindered.
Additionally, locals claim that some Revenue department officials are deliberately keeping themselves off duty, enabling the daily transportation of morrum in the evening. There are also accusations that a few officials accept bribes to facilitate the illegal trade. Between December 2024 and February 2025, the Boinda Revenue department reported only three cases of morrum transportation to the tehsil office. Boinda revenue inspector S Behera confirmed this, while Kishorenagar tehsildar Bikram Nayak stated that they would notify the Mines department and take necessary steps to curb the illegal trade. Concerned villagers have urged the district administration to intervene immediately, in absence of which there would be complete disappearance of the region’s remaining hills.
