Jhumpura: An iron mine has found itself in the midst of a controversy after accusations that its owners have encroached upon the land belonging to SC/ST communities at Naibuga village under Jhumpura tehsil in Keonjhar district.
Locals who allege their land has been illegally taken over by the mining company have blocked the road to the mines here Saturday.
According to reports, TP Mohanty, owner of the mine, had started mining operations at Naibuga village under Basantpur panchayat six years ago. Locals alleged the mine owners acquired their land on various promises and built a road, a parking zone and a dumping yard.
However, after mining started, Mohanty allegedly backtracked on his assurances.
With no way out, the land losers took up the issue with the district administration, but the mine owners allegedly pulled strings with the administration to suppress the complaints against them. A report in this regard was published in Oriya daily Dharitri earlier.
According to the complaint, the mine owner has illegally occupied two acres and 81 decimal of land of Prahallad Dehuri; 48 decimals of Bama Nayak; 76 decimals of Samara Nayak; 3 acres and 63 decimals of Raya Nayak; 64 decimals of Chaitanya Nayak; 1 acre 10 decimals of Sukra Nayak; 21 decimals of Kartika Nayak; 36 decimals of Kalakar Nayak and 3 acres and 22 decimals of Ghasiram Nayak.
Besides, Raghunath Patra, Mukula Patra, Padmanabh Patra, Haladhar Patra,, Mahaeswar Nayak, Durga Nayak and Parameswar Nayak have allegedly lost their land to the mine.
The land losers had submitted copies of their land documents to the Jhumpura tehsil office and Champua sub-collector’s office.
August 31, 2016, the affected people drew the attention of the collector, alleging that apart from illegal land occupation, the mine owner has filled a stream in the area with earth while mining has caused environmental pollution.
They had also sent copies of their complaint to the ST/SC Commissioner and the Chief Minister. Buckling under pressure, the administration had identified the land, but it was in such a bad shape that it was not fit for farming. The affected people now appealed to the sub-collector’s court in this regard and blocked the road to the mine.
When contacted, the mine owners kept mum on the issue while Champua sub-collector Gourahari Behera said a case has been filed and justice will be delivered to the affected people. PNN
