JAJPUR | Nov 24, 2017: Illegal stone quarries under Dharmasala tehsil limits in the district have now become virtual death traps for labourers with many casualties being reported on a regular basis. Thanks to the nexus among tehsil officials, local police and owners, black stone quarry blasting and mining have claimed lives of many innocent workers. As many as 15 labourers have been killed at illegal mining sites under Dharmasala tehsil limits in the last two years.
On Thursday, a worker died while working at an illegal black stone quarry in Jabara. The deceased has been identified as Bichu Behera (50) of Aruha Utumara village. He was crushed to death after a huge boulder fell on him on Thursday afternoon. Another worker, who was also working a few yards away, escaped unhurt. Behera was shifted to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Similarly, two persons died and another suffered critical injuries while working at a black stone quarry in Jabara hill on April 23. As many as four persons have died in Jabara stone quarry in the last eight months. Besides, four persons were killed in three stone quarries at Bichhakhandi in the last two years.
Though a special task force was formed by the district administration after two persons died in April this year, it has failed to check illegal stone quarrying activities in the area.
Sources said Jabara hill quarry, which was not leased out, is being illegally operated by a person of Arua village. He was allegedly operating the quarry in connivance with some officials and local ruling party leaders by paying them monthly quota.
Surendra Kumar Panda, a BJP leader, said, “Ruling party leaders have been operating several illegal stone quarries under Dharmasala tehsil by paying huge ransom to local officials on a monthly basis.”
Around 30 stone quarries in Jabara, Dankari, Bichhakhandi, Aruha, Jenapur and Balarampur areas have not been leased out by the local adminstration to facilitate illegal quarrying, he added.
(Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/)