Rupsa: Even though the administration has imposed ban orders under CrPc Section 144 in Laxmankhunta Mouza in Rupsa tehsil of Balasore, the mafia continues to carry on illegal murram mining in the area. Locals alleged the mafia is mocking at the ban orders.
The people had staged protests before the tehsil office June 25, alleging that murram worth over Rs 1 crore is being looted every year.
They had presented a memorandum to the Collector, sub-collector, the ADM and tehsildar, seeking action against the mafia.
After that the sub-collector had submitted a report to the Collector. Rupsa police and tehsil officials imposed Section 144 on 202.81 acres July 13. However, illegal mining started the same evening, but no action was taken by the administration, locals alleged.
Locals said throughout Wednesday night murram extraction and transport went on. The police were informed but none tuned up, they said.
Sub-collector Nilu Mohapatra said Section 144 was imposed there and action will be taken against the guilty on the basis of complaints.
SP Jugal Kishor Kumar Banoth said he was aware of it and asked Rupsa IIC to stop the illegal mining. If necessary, police and tehsil officials will conduct joint raids in the area, the SP added.
Upset over the rampant murram mining, hundreds of people had blocked the Sheragad-Udala state highway-19 at Podashula under Nilagiri sub-division in Balasore for six hours Thursday.
The people accused Nilagiri tehsildar of favouring the mafia.
PNN
