The State Government, which already faces the heat of the scam related to major minerals (iron ore, chromite, manganese), has also failed to stop illegal mining of minor minerals across the State. As a result, mafias have looted approximately `7,000 crore during last two years.
Mafias quarry minor minerals like laterite slabs (stones), moorum, sanda and metal chips everyday by violating existing revenue, mining laws, forest and environment guidelines. “Not a single quarry in Odisha possesses environmental clearance and hence operation of all such quarries is illegal,” said environmental activist Prafulla Samantara at a Press meet here on Thursday.
The minor minerals were being looted from public lands with the support of local administration. “Most of the mining mafia are active politicians and supporters of ruling party and hence received political patronage and official protection,” said animal rights activist Dr Biswajit Mohanty.
Due to huge demand for construction materials like laterite stones, moorum, chips, sand and other minor minerals, mafias are ruling the roost by excavating theses minerals after paying some money to local officials. “Even the Government agencies are also buying such illegal materials for their works without checking the source of the material,” said Mohanty.
On January 25, 2011, the then Revenue Secretary Dr RK Sharma had directed all the Collectors to check illegal mining of minor minerals in their areas. The local RIs and Tehsildars would be held accountable for illegal quarrying in their area since Rule 68 of the OMMC Rules, 2004 gives them sufficient powers to arrest and seize equipment and trucks used for illegal quarrying and transport, the Secretary had mentioned in the direction.
“As per this letter only 11 FIRs had been registered for the year 2010 for the entire State which revealed the terrible lack of enforcement. Due to which the mafias loot State’s natural property in broad daylight,” said Samantara.
Mohanty said there were rampant quarrying of minor minerals done in unleased Government and private lands especially in the districts of Jajpur, Puri, Khordha, Baleswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam and Angul. This is pure theft of Government mineral resources, he added.
The activists demanded a CBI probe into the entire minor mineral scam in the State so that the corrupt officials and quarry operators could be booked under the OMMC Rules, 2004.
They also demanded that disciplinary action against the district Collectors be taken immediately for allowing the operation of such quarries despite lack of environmental clearance or mining plan or environment management plan.