Sinapali: Large patches of Dangarikhol rural forest under Kendumunda RI circle of this tehsil in Nupada district are being detonated and stones smuggled out to a nearby crusher unit to be used for commercial purpose, a report said.
While the owner of the crusher unit laughs his way to bank, the state government ends up incurring huge revenue losses, it is alleged.
According to reports, stones are being smuggled out from a place just two km from the Kendumunda revenue inspector’s office. This has been going on for the last five months without any lease agreement. Several areas inside the forest are being blasted with the use of explosives and the stones sent to a crusher unit where they are made chips and other products of different sizes. The site in question is under khata no 359 and 360 of Dungarikhola mouza.
A few media persons reached the spot Tuesday to get first-hand information on the matter. It was found that the patch was a part of a rural forest and not leased out to any person for quarrying. However, the crusher unit owner continued to extract stone by allegedly greasing the palms of some revenue officials for the last five months. The unit is owned by a person from Bhalumunda area.
Meanwhile, revenue inspector Baishnab Hati reached the spot and stopped the operation. However, he didn’t seize the machines involved in the illegal activity.
When contacted, tehsildar Nilambar Suna said a case was registered against the owner with collection of penalty from him.
According to sources, a hill in Kendumunda area was leased out for quarrying. However, locals protested quarrying activities there after the pieces of stones affected cultivation on nearby farmlands. The quarry owner, later, roped in some revenue officials and started extracting stone from the forest and managed to run his crusher business, alleged locals.
PNN