Dharmasala MLA Seeks Action By Odisha Govt Against Illegal Mining, Crusher Units

Bhubaneswar: Alleging illegal mining activities in several areas of Jajpur district, Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo has sought immediate action by the Odisha government against people involved in such unauthorised operations.

In a letter to the Director of Mines and Minor Minerals, Sahoo alleged that many mining and crusher units are operating in Bichhakhandi, Rahadpur, Anjira, Bajabati, Chadheidhara, Malagadam Kusumpur and other places under his Assembly constituency.

Due to such illegal operations carried out by the mining and crusher owners, the state government is losing huge amount of royalty in the shape of revenue, he said.

Although the department has identified and penalised certain mining and crusher units, such units without depositing the imposed penal amount, have been operating under the nose of the department, the legislator claimed.

“Similarly, various other crusher units are also operating illegally in these areas without meeting the legal parameters, norms and guidelines of Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 and Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, he said.

The MLA urged the authorities to take immediate and stringent action against those illegal operations of mining and crusher units and impose fines on them. Immediate steps should be taken to safeguard government revenue from mining and crusher units, he added.