Nabarangpur: Kadalijaba hill under Baghaseuni Revenue Circle in Nabarangpur district was once rich in greenery but in the last one year, it has started losing its greenery due to rampant stone mining by the local mafia, a report said.
Rampant loot of minor minerals has caused huge revenue loss to the government, while revenue and the forest department officials have allegedly turned a blind eye to the loot, locals said.
The loot is taking place just two km away from the revenue circle office. Notably, before extracting natural resources one should take the permission of the revenue department.
However, murrum and minerals are being mined from the hill area on a daily basis by the stone mafia under the very nose of the revenue department, without seeking the department’s permission.
Locals lamented that within one year the mafia has reduced the hill by half after looting truckfuls of stones and murrum in the area. The area is now pockmarked with scores of huge craters and pits which have imposed serious danger to villagers, domestic and wild animals, locals said.
During rainy season, the craters filled with water create problems for locals. Though the revenue and the forest department officers are regular commuters of the road, they don’t pay attention towards the poor condition of the road.
On the other hand, every day the stone mafia is looting truckloads of minor minerals, resulting in loss of huge revenue for the government.
The rainwater gathers in the craters. Local animals easily fall within it as it is very difficult to estimate the level of water within the crater.
Locals, environmentalists and wildlife activists voiced their concern over the rising threat to the hill, accusing the forest and revenue departments of doing nothing to check the illegal activity.
When all such illegal activities are taking place in broad daylight, the forest and revenue departments pretend to be not aware of this fact, raising many eyebrows.
Revenue inspector Tarini Mishra said we will look into the matter and take action appropriately.