Jajpur: The Union cabinet June 27 approved the proposed underground oil depot, the 4th biggest oil reservoir of the country, at Dankari (Chandikhole) under Dharmashala tehsil in this district.
Earlier, the finance minister allocated a sum of Rs 3,800 crore in last year’s budget for the project. The 3.7 million metric tonne oil reservoir is aimed at maintaining supply of petroleum products across the country to meet emergency. The historic move of the Centre was welcomed by all quarters.
However, Jajpur district administration has apprised the state government of losing nearly Rs 1,414 crore once the reservoir project takes off. This is a reason the administration is yet to take any concrete measure to provide land for the ambitious oil reservoir project.
According to reports, there are several stone quarries near Dankari and the stones are used in various development projects of Dhenkanal, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts. Mining activities including blasting with dynamite in the surrounding areas would be stopped after the beginning of the oil project. However, the state government stands to lose Rs 1,413.86 crore as revenue if the quarrying is not allowed in the area, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, apprehending closure of their units, the stone traders are extracting over 4,000 trips of black stone from Dankari using movable crusher units. They have not obtained any permission from the government in this regard. The district administration is also showing undue favour to some influential stone traders, it was alleged.
It is alleged that the order of the Chief Secretary to close the quarries is nothing but an eyewash as rampant mining goes on under the very nose of district administration.
There are 16 black stone mines in the area bearing khata no-221 and plot no-600. Therefore, locals raise questions about the fate of the proposed oil reservoir project to be set up over 400 acres of land. The tacit indication of the district administration to change the site of project only adds to the uncertainty.
Environment expert Abhiram Das said the ecosystem of the area would be affected if the forest is destroyed for the project. In case of leakage of pipe of the reservoir, the air and water in the area would be polluted, he added.
However, Ramakanta Padhi, a local Botany teacher, said as there is no proposal of refining the oil the project won’t be a threat to the environment.
PNN
