Keonjhar: Non-Odia mafia continues to loot mines

Keonjhar: Odia Asmita (pride) seems to have taken a beating in mineral-rich Keonjhar as the non-Odia mining mafia and miners continue their shady activities unhindered in the district, a report said. During his maiden visit to the district after taking charge as Chief Minister of the BJP-led state government, Mohan Charan Majhi, who is also an MLA from the district, announced a crackdown on mineral smuggling and initiated stringent action against outside (non-Odia) mineral traders.

He had stated that action would be taken against non-Odia miners for smuggling minerals and other illegalities in mining activities in Keonjhar district. They will be arrested and put behind bars – from Keonjhar to Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar, Majhi had said. The CM’s resolve was warmly welcomed by the residents of the district. This was because it raised hopes among them that Odia Asmita would be protected in the district after the BJP governments came to power both at the Centre and in the state. It will also be in line with the Odia Asmita pre-poll plank that helped the saffron party come to power in the state. However, even three months after the BJP government took power in the state, the CM’s promises are yet to materialise. This has fuelled resentment among the residents. While opposition leaders and activists have been vocal in their criticism of the inaction, workers and leaders of the saffron party have maintained a dubious silence. This comes in the backdrop of relentless criticism of the previous government by the same BJP leaders and workers over the mining fraud. Majhi, after becoming chief minister, had spoken about corruption in mining and mafia menace in Keonjhar district.

Subsequently, the CM’s statement became a topic of discussion across the country and the state government’s action was closely watched. However, to everyone’s disappointment, the government has not taken any visible steps in that direction. “However, the people of Keonjhar district have not given up all their hopes on the Majhi government. They are eagerly waiting for the day when the action against the mining mafia begins and they see the accused behind bars – from Jharpada jail to Keonjhar jail,” said Gurbax Singh Ahluwalia, vice-president of the state Congress’ OBC Cell and a senior local leader. The Shah Commission visited the state and asked the government to collect fines from mine owners for illegal mining transactions. However, it was alleged that no action was taken at a later date to implement the punishment of the illegal miners and no steps were taken to confiscate their properties.

It is significant that it is now alleged that the looting of mineral resources is on the rise like never before. Illegal miners are evading huge taxes by declaring ‘high grade’ iron ore as ‘low grade’ and transporting iron ore lumps using the permit of iron dust. The unscrupulous miners and agents are also manipulating by overloading vehicles and inflating the quantity of iron ore. They are also transporting iron ore more than once using the same transit pass. The mining department often conducts raids on receipt of complaints but the lack of further investigation and follow-up action against the culprits has only emboldened the offenders to continue smuggling minerals with impunity, it is alleged.

As a result, this kind of illegal trade is flourishing as before. Transportation of minerals through railways has its pitfalls as the railways do not have a set system to check such illegalities. This has raised many eyebrows. In order to bring transparency in mining transactions, the state government has imposed some restrictions on the issuance of commercial certificates. Former MLA Subarna Naik said that due to the restrictions, people or organisations who were earlier involved in illegal transactions regrouped and started trading using alibis and changing the names of the organisations. In 2012, the owner of a monopoly mining company was arrested in connection with a shooting that took place at Rungta Mines in Jajang. However, he was back in business when he was released from jail on bail. He was later detained under the National Security Act (NSA) even though many cases were pending against him. Due to this, he left the mining area for many years and went into hiding in the capital.

However, what has surprised many is that soon after the new government took charge, he got an NoC for his company, which helped him expand his operations by establishing a monopoly on rail loading and transport operations in Nayagarh, Bansapani and Jurudi. He has a fleet of trucks to transport ore, while truck owners who earn their livelihood from transporting ore are on the verge of bankruptcy. This has created unrest in the mining areas. “Illegal mining will increase if tainted businessmen or organisations are allowed to resume mining activities. The Majhi government will get a bad name in the district if it does not impose restrictions on it,” said Binod Bihari Naik, leader of the Champua Congress.