Jajpur: The demand for public hearings before leasing out stone quarries in Dharmasala tehsil in this district is gaining momentum. The reason for it is the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has directed officials to conduct a public hearing on leasing of Anjira black stone quarry-1 under the tehsil, a report said.
This is for the first time in history that the SPCB has called for a public hearing on opening a black stone quarry while public hearings are conducted before establishing industrial units in the district.
Residents believe that they will have a say in the establishment of stone quarries if public hearings are held. These camps will help put a check on the illegalities of the leaseholders. The matter came to the fore after the SPCB member secretary issued a letter (11577, dated 25.09.2018) to the applicant Tapan Kumar Nayak directing him to arrange for a public hearing.
Observers claim that organising public hearing camps is the need of the hour as the Dharmasala tehsil has black stone deposits worth over Rs 120 crore. There are several illegal quarries in the area though a few have obtained permission for mining stones.
The leaseholders’ illegalities and the pollution arising out of the quarrying will greatly reduce if public hearing camps are organised before leasing out the stone quarries, locals say.
All norms are violated in the establishment and functioning of stone quarries. This is happening because the revenue and district officials as well as local public representatives are allegedly hand in gloves with stone quarry owners in exchange of ‘cuts.’
There are over 45 crushers at the foothills of Dankari which have black stone deposits. This apart, stone extraction goes on unabated from the hills of Bichhakhandi, Rahadpur, Aruha, Baghua, Charigoth, Chadheidhara villages which contributes to environmental pollution. These units lack safety norms also.
As a result, nearly 14 labourers and stone traders have died in mishaps in the last two years.
Observers claim that residents will hardly support the establishment of stone quarries and mines in the absence of safety and environmental norms if a public hearing is organised before their establishment. Locals will lay stress on peripheral development and demand employment if a public hearing is conducted.
There are over 70 mines in Dharmasala tehsil out of which many do not have environmental clearance. The alleged nexus between officials and quarry owners has hit the establishment of an underground oil depot by the Centre at Chandikhole.
Moreover, a case relating to illegal extraction of stone worth over Rs 59 crore is pending in the tehsildar’s court as the district administration is not following up the case.
The National Green Tribunal has also directed the district administration to clamp down on the illegalities of leaseholders but the administration is yet to take any action.
When contacted, Hadibandhu Panigrahi, regional officer of SPCB in Kalinganagar, said the direction has been issued as the cluster area of mines is over 25 hectares.
PNN