Keonjhar, July 6: Stone mafia is active in Nelung reserve forest under Keonjhar tehsil, illegally extracting huge quantities of stone and smuggling them out of the forest on a daily basis, a report said.
The mafia has been carrying out its illegal business with the help of local tribals, it was learnt.
Villagers alleged that though they have repeatedly taken up the matter with the tehsil and forest officials, no action has been being taken to check the illegality.
When forest officials make raids by chance, the people working at the illegal stone quarries manage to escape, the villagers said.
They observed that the forest officials should conduct raids at regular intervals to put curbs on the illegal and ecologically damaging activity.
Besides, the stone mining has left an adverse impact on the green cover, which has been cleared at many places. Big craters and hollows created due to mining activities have been posing threat to wildlife and farm animals.
Villagers said scores of valuable trees have been felled in the forest to make way for sand mining.
They lamented that the mafia hardly cares for the complaints of the people and transports truckloads of stone from the area.
Moreover, the regular transportation of stone on trucks and other heavy vehicles has left several roads in bad shape, it was learnt.
An official of the forest department, requesting anonymity, said a team will be formed to conduct surprise raids on illegal quarries. Tehsil officials have also hinted at raids in the forest. PNN
