To
Prof. Ganeshi Lal Date-
26.2.19
Hon’ble Governor, Odisha
Bhubaneswar
Sub- Seeking legal Action against Mining Mafia, local MLA , BJD leaders and
Govt. officials involved in loot of
Black-stone in Dankari Hill under Dharmashala Block of Jajpur
district causing Rs. 10,000 crore revenue loss
and recovery of the same-
Regarding .
Esteemed
Sir
We,
the members of Civil society Groups along
with Dr. Damodar Rout, former Minister , Govt. of Odisha on fact-finding mission had visited
Dankari Hill on 18.2.19 for physical
inspection and assessment of
magnitude of exploitation of minor minerals
i.e., black-stone in the Hill in the backdrop of NGT Order in complaint petition No.
604/2018 filed by Sarbeswar Behura , RTI Activist
and Member of Odisha
soochana adhikar Abhijan. The gist of the order of NGT dated 4.1.19. NGT
has directed to initiate
appropriate departmental action for the misconduct of the officers involved
in permitting illegal black
stone quarrying as found by the inspection committee constituted
by NGT. Apart from such disciplinary action, the state has to recover the cost of illegally mined material, cost of damage to environment , Net present Value of ecological services foregone
as well as cost of
restoration of the environment.
As reported
by media, Dankari
Hill forest area , storehouse of blackstone mines comes
under jurisdiction of Dharmashala Tahsil of Jajpur
district, Odisha. This area,
habitation of 700 population of Dankari village under Mahisara Gram Panchayat is 15 kms
away from Dharmashala Tahsil. Sribasa Jena ,
a former Zilla Parishad of Biju
Janata Dal, rulling party , highly politically
influential person closely
connected to local MLA and
state power corridor undertook
illegal mining operation I,e, extraction of
black stone mines in Dankari
Hill with complete
support from district administration in 2002. He carried out wagon drill for
black stone mining quarry which caused
huge water and environment pollution
in the locality.
During our visit to the
spot located around 22 kms from Dharmashala , a big Hill top ,
we observed huge
mining extraction operation
in various places
of Dankari Hill and a number of
crushers in operation around the hill. On query about
mineral exploitation, the villagers
of Dankari and Dharmashala appraised
us about illegal mining
exploitation by mining mafias
which is going on since 15 years. Sabitri Sahu, leading woman activist who
had been to jail for 22 days due to her
opposition to illegal mining operation
by mining mafias said that Mining Mafias
in collusion with Sri Pranab Balabantaray, local MLA, BJD
leaders and Govt. officials have undertaken illegal mining
operation and looted
crores of rupees at the cost of state
exchequer. The huge mining
operation without environment
clearance from Odisha State
Pollution Control Board has
caused serious health
and environment hazard in the area
and greatly affected the locals.
Most of the people
are seen suffering
from various disease like cardiac arrest, kidney damage, liver
problem etc. Around
40 people have
died due to lack of proper treatment
in the locality.
The
team also observed that the whole
Govt. machinery with tacit support
from office of Chief Minister
have extended their
support b to mining mafia to extract
minerals from the Hill. It is also apprehended that
the black money generated from
mining extraction has been used for
party activities of BJD
and their election management . The
involvement of the office of
Chief Minister , Odisha can not be
ruled out.
On 4.7.16., Sri
Abhaya Nayak, Joint Secretary, R &
DM wrote a letter to the
Collector, Jajpur to file FIR for the theft
of black stone to the extent excess than
the allotted quantity and
initiate disciplinary proceedings against the concerned R.I.s and recommend
with memo of evidence for drawal
of proceedings against Tahasildars and other
higher authorities. On 6.8.16., the
ADM submitted to Revenue
and Disaster Management the
draft proceedings against the 10 erring Tahasildars of Dharmashala in
connection with the illegal
extraction of Black stone from Dankari
Black stone quarry and loss of
revenue incurred during their incumbency
as Tahasildars. The Tahasildars
were directed to submit their written statement of
defence within 30 days from the date
of receipt of memorandum and also
to state if they desire
to be heard in person.
Similarly, on 11.8.16, the ADM
submitted to Revenue and Disaster
Management the draft proceedings against the 6 erring Sub-Collectors in
connection with the illegal
extraction of Black stone from Dankari
Black stone quarry and loss of
revenue incurred during their incumbency
as Sub-Collectors. The Sub-Collectors were directed
to submit their written statement of defence within 30 days from the date
of receipt of memorandum and also
to state if they desire
to be heard in person.
Though notice
for disciplinary proceedings
was issued to 10
Revenue Inspectors, 10 Tahasildars and
6 Sub-Collectors, it
was kept pending for years together. No action was taken against
erring officials till yet. These officials
were protected by the State Government, political leaders , local MLA and
others.
So, we
request His excellency to direct
the state Govt. to initiate
action against the Mining
Mafias, Local MLA and Govt.
official for exploitation of minerals in Dankari Hill and
recover all money
looted by them.
Dr. Damodar Rout, MLA
Sri Rabi Das, Senior Journalist
Sri Pradip Pradhan
State Convener, Odisha Soochana
Adhikar Abhijan, M-993784382
Sri Sudhir Mohanty, advocate
Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi
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