Bhubaneswar: The economic offence wing (EOW) of Orissa Crime Branch arrested 10 people on the intervening night of January 24 and 25 for allegedly carrying out illegal excavation and transportation of black granites and laterite stones from quarries in Khurda, Puri, Jajpur and Cuttack districts.
The EOW officials also seized seven trucks carrying black granites and laterite stones. The arrested men were identified as Akhila Mohan Sahoo (25), of Banki; Narayan Routray (32), of Delanga; Gautam Chand (28), of Jatni; Gouranga Rout (36), of Khurda; Pratap Keshari Behera (32), of Delanga; Jeevan Das (25), of Jajpur; Biswaranjan Panda (30), of Jajpur; Sadananda Behera (32), of Jajpur; Gyanaranjan Mishra and Parsuram Chand.
While briefing journalists here, IG (EOW) Arun Bothra said the EOW took up investigation of illegal excavation of black granites and laterite stones in the state after Orissa High Court directed the agency October 26, 2015 to probe the matter.
“We were gathering intelligence over the last two months about the people involved in illegal excavation of black granites and laterite stones in the state. After getting substantial information, we raided seven places in four districts and nabbed 10 people, including the drivers of the trucks and the owners of some of them,” he added.
Four cases were registered in this regard under Sections 120-B and 379 of IPC and Section 21 of the MMDR Act, 1957, read with Rule 68 of the OMMC Rules 2004, said Bothra. He said the stones were not being exported outside the state.
EOW’s Bhubaneswar SP Rajendra Patnaik told Orissa POST that the accused are not applying for licenses to excavate black granites and laterite stones as the licenses would make them follow stringent guidelines, which include getting environment clearance certificates and depositing a certain amount of money before proceeding in excavation work. PNN
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