Joda: Waking up from its inertia, the mines department ordered a detailed probe into the large-scale theft of minerals at some closed mines and rail sidings, following reports a day ago in Orissa Post and Dharitri. A team of mines inspectors acting on an order from the deputy director of Joda Sushant Kumar Nayak, visited the Arjun Lodha mine in Bolani area of Keonjhar. They checked the stock of minerals at the mines and found that three truckloads of quality manganese were stolen.
The mines department lodged a complaint at the local police station also based on published reports that despite the several systems like technology, GPS and Integrated mines and mineral management systems (i3ms) being in use, instances of mineral loot from various closed mines and rail sidings under the Joda mining circle in Keonjhar remained unchecked.
The mineral theft had taken place at Arjun Lodha mine (closed) in Bolani panchayat and Jurudi rail siding.
Local people requesting anonymity said that mineral mafia had transported about 40 tonnes of high-grade manganese from the Arjun Lodha mine June 20 and July 3 to neighbouring Jharkhand. Sources said an export agency had transported 3855.810 tonnes of mineral from an operation mine to Jurudi rail siding June 27. Though official records showed that a large amount of mineral was transported through trucks to the rail sidings, in reality, much lesser amount of mineral was transported and the rest taken away by foul means.
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Mineral testing agency office raided
Joda: Amid allegations of illegal mining and loot of mineral during transportation in various parts of Keonjhar, the mines department has conducted raids on an agency testing the quality of minerals at Joda Friday. Aa team of mines officials including Prahant Kumar Panda and Kruhsna Chandra Khuntia questioned the staff of the mineral testing agency, OSS.
It is learnt that tonnes of minerals had been stocked in front of its office, but the department was not informed of its quantity. Some unscrupulous staff of the agency has allegedly sold minerals from their stock. The raid was held after the matter became public. It is suspected that officials too colluded with such loot.
However, the officials’ team has not assessed the extent of the minerals stock. Officials quizzed Snehasish Mohanty, head of the company (Joda branch), and asked him into the office of the Joda deputy director of mines for record verification. Mohanty, however, said that there were no irregularities in the agency. PNN
