Crackdown on illegal stone quarries in Jajpur: Govt takes action | Bhubaneswar News

Kendrapada: Mining department officials together with the police conducted raids illegal quarries in Dharmasala block of Jajpur district on Monday targeting operations in Rahalpur, Dhankari, Bajabati and Arunha districts.
Jayaprakash Nayak, Deputy Director of Mines (Minor Minerals) in Jajpur said that during the operation, authorities seized two compressors and a tractor loaded with boulders while stopping all illegal mining activity in these hills.
The raids revealed serious violations of the Mines Act, 1952, which requires lessees to register with the Directorate General of Mine Safety (DGMS) and submit detailed mine plans through the Shram Suvidha portal. A commission has been set up to investigate illegal mining activities and its report will be submitted.
Dharamsala MP Himanshu Sahu alleged that influential people have been engaged in unauthorized mining and stone mining in these areas for over two decades. “Continuous illegal quarrying has endangered many hills and surrounding villages,” Sahoo claimed. He added that residents are suffering from respiratory diseases due to environmental pollution and uncontrolled blasting has damaged houses and crops.
Six years ago, the district administration had blocked four illegal quarries in Dhankar on the directions of the National Green Tribunal. The area was previously earmarked for the Strategic Crude Oil Storage Project, where 600 acres were earmarked to store 3.7 million metric tons of crude oil.
“The state government is determined to prevent illegal mining of black granite and unauthorized mining by the mafia in these areas,” Nayak said, underscoring the administration’s commitment to address the age-old problem affecting local communities and the environment.