Jhumpura: People living in villages along the banks of river Aradei under Jumpura block in Keonjhar district are up in arms against illegal sand quarrying at Katalpasi ghat.
Villagers alleged the wanton sand-lifting has caused huge craters in the riverbed while flow of water has been choked at places. Farming has also been affected, they rued. It has also triggered erosion of the riverbanks while valuable tree along the banks have been washed away by strong currents.
The villagers had drawn the attention of the administration time and again, but nothing came out of it. The affected villagers recently moved a petition to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking a halt to the illegal sand-lifting.
According to reports, there are two sand ghats in the river—one at Katalpasi under Balibandh revenue circle and the other at Asuki under Jhumpura revenue circle.
Villagers said the river used to have plenty of water to irrigate their farmland throughout the year. However, the leaseholder has engaged machines and takes away truckloads of sand every day beyond its lease area.
Residents of Katalpasi, Asuki, Barakhandia, Balibandh and Arsala have been facing a lot of problems due to the sand-lifting. After repeated complaints by the villagers, the administration stopped auction at Asuki ghat.
However, despite opposition from locals, Katalpasi sand ghat was put under hammer. With no way out, a group of people moved the NGT.
Admitting the petition, the tribunal has, meanwhile, issued notices to the collector, sub-collector, tehsildar, divisional forest officer, mining officials, leaseholder and sarpanchs of four panchayats.
Despite the tribunal notice, the leaseholder has gone beyond the lease area and continues to quarry sand, villagers said.
A couple of days ago, local people strongly opposed the leaseholder’s attempt to take away two tractor-loads of sand from non-lease area.
The villagers immediately filed a complaint against the leaseholder and informed the tehsildar. Later local revenue inspector reached the spot and stopped the sand-lifting.
Tehsildar Janak Nayak admitted having received a notice from the tribunal, but said he was not aware of sand-lifting beyond the lease area. PNN
