Lokayukta orders vigilance probe into illegal mining

Bhubaneswar: Taking cognizance of the TOI report about illegal stone mining in Jajpur district published on June 1, the Lokayukta Odisha on Monday ordered a vigilance inquiry into the matter and asked the director, Vigilance, Odisha, to submit a report on it within two months.
TOI on June 1 reported about the matter mentioning how two workers were killed after an illegal quarry in Jajpur district caved in. The incident took place under Jenapur police station limits where illegal quarrying of blackstone is rampant.
The deceased workers were Shantanu Khilar, the operator and Apu Rout, the helper of a proclean machine. The two fell from a height of nearly 50 metres with the proclean machine they were operating at the mining site. While Santanu died on the spot, Apu died while he being taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
The Lokayukta, in its order, stated that had the tragedy not taken place, illegal mining of the quarry would not have been reported. The question therefore is whether such illegal mining was being carried out in connivance with the concerned government authorities for their wrongful gain and causing huge financial loss to the state exchequer, it said.
“We accordingly take suo motu cognizance of this reporting and order a preliminary inquiry to be conducted by the Director, Vigilance, Odisha, Cuttack for ascertaining whether there exists a prima facie case for proceeding further in matter against any public servant or any other person,” the order reads.
The Lokayukta further stated, “We have passed this order in excise of power conferred on us under section 20 (1) of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014. It is needless to mention that the director, vigilance shall ensure compliance of the provisions of section 20(2) of the Act. The report of preliminary inquiry should be submitted within two months”.