Granite quarries thrive near Berhampur city, govt. loses lakhs

BERHAMPUR: As granites of Ganjam district are of high quality and having unique lustre and attractive colours and in great demand in international market, traders of Orissa and outside are out to exploit the resources. Everyone having interest in this sector wants to have his share by hook or crook leading to unbridled and illegal mining and transportation of granite blocks to outside the State. Due to the mad rush for this business, more than 30 granite units have been registered with District Industries Centre (DIC) office in Berhampur while many more units are functioning clandestinely. However, investigation reveals glaring loopholes in the process of registration. According to DIC sources, permission is granted to units when one approaches for it which is equivalent to registration. And as such the DIC has no such control over the units, said the source. Due to lackadaisical attitude of the authorities, the government is losing lakhs of rupees in revenue daily.
Many units, which are into stone quarrying, have acquired licence from the Revenue Department but do not have required clearance from Environment and Forest Department. Large scale blasting and mining of granites also lead to sound and environmental pollution. The surrounding areas are covered with a thick blanket of granite dust.
According to locals, as profit-making is the sole aim of these units, they are hardly bothered for the development of the area under corporate social responsibility (CSR). Even the industrial security norms have gone for a toss in these units leading to increasing number of accidents. More than 10 such mishaps have been reported in the last one year. As the workers engaged by the units are not registered, they are deprived of compensation due to accidents. But the union of the granite units has a different version. There are no such incidents of illegal mining and transportation, a functionary of the union said. The owners are trying their best to address the environmental and other problems said the union.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express