Keonjhar: Unchecked stone quarrying in Sadar and Ghatagaon forest ranges not only damages valuable forest resources, but has also posed serious threat to wildlife, a report said.
With denuding of forests, scared animals and reptiles run away from the area. They either die in road mishaps or get trapped by poachers. There are many instances of deaths of elephants and bears in road mishaps. These wild animals, due to rampant mining, also stray into human settlements resulting in rising cases of man-animal conflicts, it was learnt.
Locals Monday rescued a monitor lizard from a forest, but it died after a while. It might have been hurt by poachers who kill these reptiles for their hide, they said.
According to reports, illegal mining and cultivation on forest land after encroachment has led to shrinking of forests. Many plants with medicinal values have disappeared from the area.
The residents demanded immediate protection of wild animals and creation of forest in the area. Besides, they also wanted the administration to fill up the craters created by illegal stone mining that pose threat to animals.
PNN