Jajpur admn imposes Sec 144 on hillocks to prevent illegal mining

KENDRAPADA: The Jajpur administration on Tuesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in the hillocks of Lunibera, Aruha and Bajabati under Dharmasala tehsil, Kendugadia in Raijhar tehsil and Purnachandrapur under Darpani tehsil to prevent illegal mining after two workers were killed in a quarry cave-in on May 31.
“To prevent rampant illegal quarrying activities, we have promulgated prohibitory orders by hoisting red flags and putting up hoardings. We have also directed the police to guard the hillocks,” said Swagat Das, tehsildar of Dharmasala.
“We have not leased out the hillocks to any person for mining black stone. But some people had been illegally carrying out extraction. After getting allegations from the villagers, we stopped the mining. Two workers were killed on May 31 while working in an illegal black stone quarry in Lunibera,” he added.
“Rampant illegal mining in many hillocks are posing a danger to the nearby villages and agricultural fields. Some contractors in connivance with government officials have been illegally extracting stones due to which hillocks in Dharmasala are on the verge of collapse. We are happy that the authorities have imposed prohibitory orders to stop illegal mining,” said Bhaskar Das of Aruha.
“Most villagers have developed pulmonary diseases due to pollution. Unchecked blasting has damaged houses and crops forcing residents to stage protests several times. We are extremely happy after officials sealed all illegal quarries and imposed prohibitory orders,” said Sandeep Jena of Bajabati village.
In 2007, at least 14 workers were killed in an illegal quarry at Rangeitangala village in Sukinda block, said environmentalist Sarbeswar Behura.