Joda: Even as there are multiple laws to check smuggling of minor minerals, they fail to yield results due to negligence of officials who on the contrary help inter-state smugglers. The roots of illegal trading of minerals have extended to neighbouring Jharkhand resulting in losses of huge revenues to the state exchequer.
According to well-placed sources, at least 60 truckloads of sand, chips and stones are smuggled into Joda from Noamundi of Jharkhand and Rourkela via Murga and Bileipada every day. The material is used in various projects of a local mining company. This apart, the civil suppliers stock these minor minerals which are later supplied to railway contractors and private mining companies. These irregularities are conducted in broad day light under the very nose of the administration.
If sources are to be believed, the government incurs royalty losses to the tune of Rs 2,200 excluding GST on every truckload of material. Some officials of revenue department help the smugglers, it was alleged. This apart, many illegal quarries are being run with impunity.
When contacted, Barbil tehsildar Khirod Kumar Behera said no lease has been granted for quarrying of minor minerals in Joda-Barbil region. If such mining activities take place anywhere, they are illegal, he added. The revenue department would conduct raids with the help of police during night and inspect the minor mineral depots, he further said.
According to officials, there was no law in place for leasing out of mines of minor minerals earlier. However, after introduction of the Orissa Minor Minerals Conservation Rule 2016, the lessees needed approval of their mining plans by appropriate authorities. According to the law, the lessees now need to pay royalty along with the cost of minerals.
Therefore, about 90 per cent lease holders are now involved in illegal transportation of minerals to evade payment of royalty.
Collector Ashis Thakare said he would speak to the tehsildar in this regard and night patrolling would be intensified. He would also order raids on the site where minerals are dumped, Thakare added.
PNN