Chandikhole: OMC’s Khondalite stone quarrying from Sukhuapada in Darpana tehsil of Jajpur district has come to stand still due to non-availability of good quality stones.
According to reports, Khondalite stones were being brought from Cuttack’s Gobindapur and the cutting was done here since a few days. But due to inferior quality, the stones used to break apart.
In the meanwhile, OMC’s efforts to trace good quality Khondalite stones at different spots in the leased quarry have also failed.
On the other hand, the ASI has also barred quarrying from Kesharaipur situated in the hilltop area where good quality Khondalite stones have been traced.
There were protests from various quarters for the protection of this heritage.
Locals are of the view that Parabhadi hill is a historic site and has an ancient Boudha Stupa. The structure is almost on the very of extinction owing to lack of conservation and proper upkeep, they alleged. The Parabhadi hill also has several other Buddhist structures.
ASI officials have prohibited excavation by OMC in this prohibited area.
On the other hand, no money is being given by the department for the project work approved by OMC for environmental improvement. In this regard, an official of the Ministry of Transport said that the work is stopped due to non-receipt of money from the OMC.
Similarly, even though the road from Khadolite Mine to Kesharaipur was announced, the money has not been sanctioned till today.
The OMC announced to provide money from its environmental improvement fund for all these projects. However, as quality stone is not available from this mine, all the plans of the OMC are now going to fail.
Since the local stone sculptors have been saying that the stone obtained from the dry hill is not of good quality, on what basis is the OMC criticized here? The decision to mix stones has raised questions. While thousands of trees were cut down for this project, local people also opposed it in the beginning.
It was estimated that stone would be supplied from here for the ‘ABADHA’ project. In addition, it was targeted to extract stone from Teligarh, Chandia under Amirlan Tehsil. Initially, the process was started for the mining of dry cloth. The land of Bandareshwar Mauza of dry cloth hills is Khata No. 389, Plot No. 2 land from Pahar Kismar.
Sameer Mohanty, an officer of OMC, said that now the work is stopped because no stone is found. Discussions are going on regarding the quarrying of stones from Teligarh. Likewise, another official Gangadhar Nayak said that the government will take a decision as to whether there will be any more mining from here. We have informed the state government about this.
