Jajpur: The Central government’s move for an underground oil reserve near Chandikhole is facing stiff resistance from stone quarry owners and traders.
They have formed an organisation to oppose the project near Dankari in Jajpur district as they see it as an obstacle to their ongoing quarrying, according to a report. Orissa POST has carried several reports on the Dankari stone mining and the proposed project.
Meanwhile, acting on a social activist’s plea (Application No 604/2018) on the issue of stone mining, the National Green Tribunal is learnt to have registered a case (1286/31/8/2018) against the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the state government and Jajpur Collector and started hearing the case Friday.
A division bench of NGT, comprising Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Jawad Rahim, Justice P Wangdi and Dr Nagin Nanda took up the hearing.
The Union Cabinet had given its approval to the country’s 4th largest oil reserve at Dankari under Dharmasala tehsil June 27. The Centre has also allotted Rs 38,000 crore in the Union Budget for the ambitious 3.7 million metric tonne project.
However, it is said that the project would take a heavy toll on the revenue of the state government. The district administration has assessed that it would lose Rs 1413.86 crore as revenue from its lease.
Dharmasala tehsildar in his letter (1189/12/4/2018) to the Collector has stated that three approved stone mines and 13 mines waiting for approval will be stopped if the project is executed. On the other hand, the district administration has not taken any step for acquiring land for the project.
It is also alleged that the district administration has been showing undue favouritism to some politically influential stone traders. However, the Chief Secretary has issued a letter to the district administration March 20, 2018 asking to stop stone mining in Dankari.
Social activist Sarbeswar Behura, in his petition, alleged that even though five months have passed since this directive was issued by the Chief Secretary, stone mining has not been stopped, but it has been permitted.
The stone mining also has taken a heavy toll on the nearby irrigation projects — Ranibandh and Paikrapur dams — which have gone dry. Ranibandh was supposed to irrigate 48 hectares in Rampei, Kaduamagura and many other nearby villages. Locals alleged that seasonal streams that filled the dams have dried after stone quarrying.
Asked about NGT, Jajpur Sub-Collector Narayanchandra Dhal said no directive has been received from the NGT in this regard. “Steps will be taken only after getting the directive,” he added.
PNN