Forest officers on Tuesday seized three vehicles which were engaged in illegal excavation in Morrum Khadan near the Ragadi Jail under the Vyasanagar Pachhikote revenue circle under Vyasanagar tehsil in Jajpur district.
With the seizure, a scam was reportedly detected in the construction of Panikoili-Anandapur four-lane road of the NH-215 by ‘Gayatri (Road) Projects ltd’.
The Gayatri Projects used lakhs trips of morrum, sand and soil collected illegally and a huge amount of royalty was reportedly evaded. The said materials are also transported to the Dhamara Port and other areas by mafias supported allegedly by ruling party leaders.
The three vehicles seized included two Hitachis and a Hywaa. The Hywaa belonged to a cousin of Korai MlA Akasdas Nayak, according to sources.
locals have demanded stopping of illegal excavation from forest land while alleging that forest officers as well as revenue officials are giving protection to the contractor. A racket comprising ruling party leaders, a high-level officer of district administration and construction agency have looted away huge amounts of taxes and royalty and also disfigured the nature, alleged they.