Jajpur: The district Collector here has drawn flak from the Lokayukta following allegation of financial fraud in demarcation of the black stone quarries under Dharmasala tehsil in the district and installing boundary pillars on the land, a report said.
Justice Ajit Singh, Chairman of the Lokayukta has expressed his displeasure in this regard in the order sheet of case no-1249/2020. Justice Singh has mentioned in the order sheet that a previous order to the district Collector to file reply in the matter has not been complied with.
The district Collector has been given another chance to file his detailed reply in the matter. Any non-compliance of the order will be viewed seriously if the district Collector fails to file his reply on the matter by March 8, the date scheduled for next hearing.
Moreover, the reply filed by the Dharmasala tehsildar on the matter appears mysterious and vague. All this has been taken on record, Justice Singh has mentioned in his order.
Reports said that in its bid to check black stone theft, Dharmasala tehsil has reportedly spent around Rs 1, 80, 180 towards installation of pillars in demarcated quarries and on its transportation. A human rights activist Sarbeshwar Behura alleging severe irregularities in the work filed a case before the Lokayukta November 2, 2020.
The Lokayukta admitted the petition for hearing and directed Jajpur Collector, Sub-collector and Dharmasala tehsildar to file their reply.
The Dharmasala tehsildar in his reply filed February 10, 2020 said that the proprietor of a private firm Gayatri Marbles at Jaraka was assigned the task of installing pillars on the demarcated quarries in 2018. The cost incurred towards installation of pillars was to him in a cheque November 19, 2018.
However, the concerned revenue inspector and revenue supervisor have stated in their probe reports that the pillars have been destroyed. The Lokayukta has termed the report as mysterious.
MLAs Bishnu Charan Sethi, Sukant Nayak, Mukesh Mahaling and Mohan Charan Majhi had brought an adjournment motion in the state Assembly questioning when the state government will take on the revenue loss arising out of illegal mining of minor minerals from Dankari hill in Jajpur district, November 20, 2019.
The state Revenue minister Sudam Marandi submitted a nine-point answer in reply to the motion in the Assembly. The minister replied that a task force has been formed at district, sub-division, and tehsil levels to check illegal miners and transporters of minor minerals. Penalty to the extent of Rs 5 lakh would be collected from them, it was said. Moreover, with the approval of Home Ministry a section of APR police force has been deployed in eight sensitive tehsils and two sub-divisions of eight districts.
Moreover, a budget worth Rs 5 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 4.63 crore in 2019-20 was approved and released to all district Collectors which will be utilised in checking illegal mining. The Steel and Mines department has sanctioned Rs 1.86 crore for installation of pillars in the quarries. Plans are also afoot to open a directorate of minor minerals in the state, the minister had said. However, none of the steps has been implemented in quarries in Jajpur district, a report said.
Dharmasala tehsildar Prasant Samantray said a reply has been filed before the Lokayukta while necessary steps will be taken on his further order.
Collector Chakraborti Singh Rathore said he is unaware about installation of pillars and has not received any notice from the Lokayukta. He refused to comment “without having any information on the issue.”
PNN