BHUBANESWAR: Even as the ghost of the multi-hundred crore mining scam is yet to be erased from public memory, the loot continues unabated in the mining hub of Keonjhar district.The existence of a mafia, which is indulging in rampant illegal mining and its transportation right under the nose of the administration, has made the whole incident murkier.At least seven legislators, cutting across party line, wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik four months back, drawing his attention to this situation, but to no avail.Despite all the hyperbole by the Government over checking illegal mining, a Tamil Nadu-based earthmover company has joined hands with a local politician, whose army of goons have taken control over mines in the district.Tribals too are up in arms against the rampant mining activities, but the Government has given them a deaf ear.It was in May that MLA Debashis Nayak wrote a letter to Naveen seeking his intervention.“An unholy alliance between some key out-of-the state mining contractor and local political personalities has been formed and it is creating havoc with State’s interest in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts,” his letter said.Six other MLAs too echoed similar sentiments and submitted petitions before the CM seeking that the situation be arrested at once.The earthmover company, allegedly in collusion with Sanatan Mahakud, who had unsuccessfully contested from Champua on a Congress ticket in the 2009 elections, has built an army of security agencies and together they have taken control over at least 10 mines in Joda area of Keonjhar.In August, MLAs of Koraput, Bhograi, Loisinga and Khariar wrote to Naveen and alleged that the ring of illegal operations is “being led by Mahakud with active support from a South Indian business partner which is involved in the 2G scam.” The syndicate either shuts down mines on flimsy grounds demanding huge extortion or allows the entire operation to be taken over by its partner as huge money changes hands.While the South India company employs its mechanised operations, transportation of the ore is looked after by Mahakud’s handpicked men in the business, the MLAs said.In August, the Deputy Director (Mines) of Joda Circle shot off a letter to Essel Mining and Industries Ltd, which has a lease in the area, asking the company to evict Mahakud from its surface rights area where the politician has built a house.In fact, the Steel and Mines department also issued show-cause to three leaseholders for employing a third party (the South Indian firm) for mining, which is a violation of law, but in vain.Yet, the State Government is silent.So much so that the duo is alleged to have stalled public hearing process of 15 mines and steel plants in the area and PSUs like SAIL and NINL are not spared.“Currently, the alliance has taken over 10 mines and selling over 10 mil¬lion tonne ore illegally leading to a loss of Rs 200 cr to the State exchequer,” the MLAs said.
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