Launching a crackdown on illegal mining of minor minerals, Jajpur district administration on Monday imposed Section 144 of CrPc and conducted raids at the Dankari hillock under Dharmasala block.
“We stopped all the stone quarry works at Dankari. Of the 16 spots where mining activities were being carried, as many as 13 units were found to be operating without obtaining mandatory operational clearance from State Pollution Control Board,” said Jajpur Collector Ranjan Das.
Last week, Jajpur SP and senior officials had visited Dankari hillock to submit a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding illegal stone quarrying from the hillock. As per the direction of the NGT, district Collector Das and other officials visited Dankari hillock on Friday.
“We will soon submit a report to the NGT,” said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Cuttack S Rehaman. ¬
Acting on a petition of an environmentalist Sarbeswar Behura, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently directed the State Government to constitute a joint inspection team to ascertain facts pertaining to illegal stone quarrying operating in and around Dankari Hillock, take necessary actions against the quarry mafias and close the illegal quarries.
Behura had alleged in his petition before the NGT that the continuous illegal quarry works posed danger to the hill and nearby villages at Dankari. He alleged that with the demand for stone increasing owing to the construction of the houses, the stone-quarry activities have gone up considerably in the areas.
Local goons and contractors have been illegally quarrying in many hillocks but the authority is not taking any steps against them, Behura had complained.
It may be recalled here that Union Petroleum Ministry had earlier approved setting up of an underground oil reservoir project in Dankari hillock region. A 400- acre stretch land was required for the project. Though the project was announced four years back, it is yet take off as the State Government has failed provide land required for the project. Incidentally, the land earmarked for the project has come under illegal mining operation.