Post News Network
Joda, Feb 24: Close on the heels of seizure of a huge cache of illegal manganese ore, the staff of Joda mining circle Tuesday seized high grade manganese ore worth Rs 10 lakh in areas adjacent to the mine surrendered by Tata Steel.
The mines officials had information about manganese being extracted in a remote place in the forest in Bhuyanroida. Acting on the tip-off, deputy director of mines, Joda circle, Satyananda Sahu directed the mines inspectors to conduct a raid in the area.
A team comprising mines inspectors Srikant Mohant, Ajay Pradhan, Subhendu Samal and Sameer Mishra carried out a search operation and seized 110 tonne of high quality manganese ore. The raid was carried out till the evening.
The manganese was freshly extracted, but the mines officials had no idea about who dug it out and where this was to be transported.
Source said some mines mafia groups have been active in this area and transporting illegal manganese ore from the areas of OMDC in Roida to neighbouring Jharkhand via Mayurbhanj district. They are operating on Benisagar route.
Besides, mines mafias have cut down trees and made roads inside the forest to facilitate easy and secret transportation of the minerals and also through the Bolani-Kiribur route to Rourkela and some areas of Jharkhand, the sources added.
February 18, 2015, Barbil sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Ajay Pratap Swain along with other police officials had seized four dumpers laden with illegal manganese ore and a motorcycle.
The police had also arrested seven persons who were involved in the illegal transport of ore.
When contacted, the Joda deputy director of mines hinted that raids will be intensified and expanded to more areas in the days to come.
