Jhumpura: Murram, earth and other minor minerals are allegedly being excavated virtually unchecked from forest land in various parts of Jhumpura block in Keonjhar district. Earth and murram is being used for constructing dams, roads, check dams, and even official buildings.
Such illegal activities have led to loss of huge amount of revenue for the state government. However, the district administration, forest department and tehsil officials are taking no action in this regard, it was alleged.
In the forested areas of Basantpur, Nayagad, Kutugan, Malda and Nischintpur panchayats, illegal quarrying of murram and earth is going on with impunity. The illegally excavated minor minerals are used in all development projects without official sanction, it is learnt.
Locals alleged they had taken up the issue with the administration umpteen times, but no action is being taken nor any investigation is being conducted.
Observers said two contractors carrying out construction of a PWD road and approach road of a bridge in Basantpur panchayat are digging out earth from a nearby forest.
The land belongs to Keshera forest category which falls under the revenue department, according to sources in the forest department. As per rules, any sort of excavation requires permission of the revenue department. If the area is replete with shrubs and trees, permission of the forest department is also necessary.
Locals said the two contractors are digging earth, murram and stones from any part of the forest land according to their fancy. Nobody dares to stand up to the illegal activities of the two contractors as they are said to enjoy close ties to an influential legislator.
As for the issue, Bamebari forester Santosh Sethi said he had earlier warned the contractors against lifting earth from forest land, but the latter had denied having dug out the land.
“As the land belongs to Khesera forest category, it is the tehsil administration which should first take action. The area comes under Malda revenue circle,” Sethi said.
Malda revenue inspector Anita Mohant said she had no idea about the illegal excavation.
“Action will be taken after an investigation,” she added.
Tehsildar Shiba Toppo said action would be taken on the basis of an RI report. PNN