Being overdriven by their overzealous motivation to make maximum profit in the mining sector of Keonjhar ,it is alleged that the new mines owners are not only overlooking the employment of the local people but also ignoring the mining ,environment and safety rules.
This came to light on Friday night at about 1 am when a 12 wheeler truck being loaded with iron ore fines from KP Mines near Barbil overturned and fell 25 feet down the road just near the mines.
The driver identified as Prakash Kumar Jena ( 33) died on the spot. Barbil PS IIC Sushanta Kumar Dash revealed that the police retrieved the body after reaching there in the morning ,sent it for post mortem and registered a case. But Gurucharan Oram , president of NGO Native Voice alleged that the accident could have been averted if Arcellor-Mittal had repaired the road which has been completely damaged due to the movement of thousands of heavy trucks on it. Previously, the mines was in the name of KJS Alluwalia but after Arcell Mittal - the new mines owner, stared the operation ,the movement of heavy trucks have multiplied but no attention was given to the improvement in the road conditions.
Secondly ,there was no facility of light for which the body was lying there in the dark till morning.
Otherwise, after the accident occurred ,the victim could have been immediately taken to the nearby hospital anf his life saved.The locals demanded adequate compensation to the decesed family, repair of the road and lighting facility in the area.