Sajanagada: The district administration allegedly encourages smuggling of murram (a minor mineral) and supports destruction of solar barricades worth crores of rupees erected to prevent entry of elephants into human habitations.
Rajiv Das, convener of Prakruti Surakhya Manch-Nilagari, an outfit fighting for the cause of environment, Monday warned of blocking state highway no 19 at Podashula for an indefinite period if the illegality is not checked.
Das has sent a note to the superintendent of police, divisional forest officer, Nilagiri sub-collector, SDPO, IIC, ranger and Nilagiri MLA in this regard.
According to reports, an influential political person of Bhuladanga area under Nilagiri sub-division has purchased a patch of land in Bitisahi village under Bhaunriabada panchayat of the same block. He has also availed huge subsidy from state fisheries department to excavate a pond. While the government rule says the murram extracted from the tank project should be used on the bank, it is being smuggled to other areas. The person involved in smuggling manages to get temporary permits from the tehsildar and smuggle the minor mineral to other regions without obtaining clearance from the pollution board.
On the other hand, the solar barricades erected by the forest department have been demolished to facilitate smuggling of murram, it was alleged.
In the absence of barricades, the elephants of Kuldiha sanctuary, in search of food, enter the villages and destroy crops on acres of farmland, said the nearby villagers.
The villagers also alleged that the officials of forest and revenue departments prefer to keep mum even as tonnes of murram and laterite stones are found near the tank. Questions are being raised over how the revenue department issues temporary permit to the person to smuggle the minerals. Residents of Jamudiha, Siadimal, Jadida, Naranpur, Gardihi and Sanjanagarh panchayats under Nilagiri sub-division have threatened a stir.
PNN
