Keonjhar: As thousands of mineral-laden tippers, trucks and trailers shuttle in Keonjhar district round the clock, they have taken a huge toll on the local environment. Pollution has emerged as a growing menace in the region.
Transportation of iron ores, manganese and other minerals is going on rampantly, violating all rules and regulations as there is no systematic checking to monitor overloading amid allegations that no action is being taken against the transporters carrying minerals in uncovered vehicles.
Simultaneously, the vehicles are causing severe traffic jam on various routes and even on NH-520 as preventive measures for curbing illegal transportation and smuggling have been stopped.
Experts say, regular patrolling is not being conducted by the authorities to seal bordering areas of the district as district level checking squad is alleged to have become inactive.
Moreover, the state government-proposed Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices supposed to be installed in mineral-laden vehicles for streamlining legal and safe transportation of minerals in Keonjhar district have been left halfway.
However, 40 mines are to be auctioned this year out of which 24 mines are operational these days and 14 are in Keonjhar district.
According to sources, mine owners are pressuring the state government to change its decision as they fear losing their mines after auction. The lease period for these 40 mines will expire after March 2020, reports said.
The mine owners allegedly resort to excessive extraction of minerals and hurriedly transport iron ores to outside destinations. In order to draw maximum possible profit, they are smuggling day and night, the report said.
PNN
