Post News Network
Joda, Oct 18: Close on the heels of media reports on illegal stocking of minerals under the ground at Renjada railway siding in Sundargarh district, a report says tonnes of illegally extracted ore have allegedly been kept hidden underground in parts of Joda mining circle in Keonjhar district. Oriya daily Dharitri had published a report about the seizure of iron ore worth Rs 40 lakh hidden underground in Joda circle, May 25, 2010. A similar report was published June 5, 2013.
However, due to lack of investigation, minerals are lying hidden underground at various sidings – at Bansapani, Deojhar, Nayagad, Jurudi, Barbil and several other places – in Joda mining circle. Reliable sources said when the MB Shah Commission and Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had visited various areas of the district as part of their probes into the multi-crore mining scam in the state, the mafia had used a huge quantum of illegally extracted iron ore and other minerals in road construction works near rail sidings while tonnes of minerals have been buried underground in a bid to conceal the irregularities.
A geologist of a mining firm, requesting anonymity, revealed that iron ore has been used in many roads leading to various rail sidings. If the soil samples of these roads are tested, they will definitely show over 60 per cent of ferrous content. He also said some contractors during pay-loading of minerals at rail sidings siphon off some quantity of minerals and sell them later at convenient time. Whenever officials conduct raids, the contractors hurriedly conceal the minerals under the ground or dump them near the sidings and suppress them with rollers in a bid to evade trouble, he added. Sometimes, the contractors use the minerals in road construction works, but such illegal acts do not come to the notice of investigators, he added.
The CEC in its report had stated that the quantum of illegally dumped iron ore at Bansapani siding was 30,080 tonnes while the quantum of manganese and iron ore dumped at Jurudi was 67,811.739 tonnes and 56,300 tonnes at Barbil rail siding. However, the mines department is yet to find out from where the minerals were brought and excavated and to which places they were to be transported.
The department seized the dumped minerals, but tonnes of illegally dug out minerals were buried underground at the sidings. It is alleged the elevated grounds near the sidings may be the possible places of such hidden treasures. Several mining experts observed that if an independent inquiry is carried out, a huge quantum of hidden minerals can be found, which will fetch crores of rupees to the state exchequer.