Jajpur: Even though prohibitory orders under Section 144 of IPC have been in force in five black stone quarries in Jajpur, mega stone crusher units continue to operate at the foot of Rahadpur and Dankari hills.
On the other hand, although heavy vehicles overloaded with illegally extracted stones have been operating in the district regularly, some staff of the Chandikhole RTO have adopted an ostrich like policy on such illegal mineral transportation.
Inaction by RTO against the vehicles violating the newly implemented Motor Vehicles Act has raised many eyebrows.
Report said, there are three stone quarries in Rahadpur and two in Dankari where Section 144 has been clamped. But in reality, stone extraction has been going on at night with the administration blinking its eye.
Surprisingly, mega stone crushing units named as Mittal, MM Infra, Bajrangi, Biraja, Utkal Highway, Vicky, MIPL and Sai are operating, thus proving that they are receiving regular supply of stones.
It is alleged that vehicles overloaded with chips and metal operate in these areas owing to an unholy nexus between crusher owners, transport agencies and RTO officials.
Overloaded vehicles have been posing danger on NH-6, NH-53 and NH-200. This is a blatant violation of amendment to Motor Vehicles Act.
The RTO staff is supposed to crack whip on such illegal activities by vehicles under the new Act.
Locals alleged that crusher owners and influential transport agencies are carrying out such mineral transportation in violation of traffic rules by bribing the RTO staff.
Huge revenue
Chandikhole RTO assumes importance in view of its huge revenue from vehicles operating in the area. A large amount of unaccounted revenue allegedly goes into the pockets of some RTO staff as they don’t act against overloading of vehicles, locals allege.
Though revenue collection has been more than expected, overloading of minerals has increased. On the other hand, the traffic police and RTO have intensified crackdown on the vehicles violating traffic rules.
Thursday, a team led by Chandikhole RTO carried out raids at different places and collected Rs 20 lakh in three hours.
They carried out raids on heavy vehicles which were overloading chips and metal in stone quarries at Rahadpur, Bajabati, Bichhkahandi and Balarampur under Dharmashala tehsil.
Asked about the overloading, Chandikhole RTO lalamohan Sethi said that the department is keeping a vigil on illegal transportation of minerals. Necessary action will be taken against the vehicles violating the Motor Vehicles Act, he added.
PNN