The Kamakhyanagar Sub-Collector visited illegal mining at Damsal canal near Asurabandha in Bhuban tehsil after a rally was held by villagers led by activist Debashisha Hota.
Sub-Collector Kalpataru Behera, Bhuban Tehsildar Parikhita Sahoo and the Sadar Revenue Inspector (RI) visited the spot and talked to the people.
When the Sub Collector questioned the source of the canal, the RI misled him by saying that it was not a canal, rather a mountain and forest rain water seasonal spring.
This was seriously objected by the local villagers, who reported to the Sub Collector that the canal is a branch of Damasal canal on which 5,000 people of half a dozen villages depend for irrigation for last many years.
Meanwhile, Hota threatened to intensify the stir if the mining project is taken forward by suppressing the public opinion.
He also alleged a link between local political leaders with Mines Minister and Kamakhyanagar MlA Prafulla Mallick in taking forward the illegal project ignoring the protest by public.