Nayagarh laterite mine scam: Action initiated against six officials following NGT order

Taking stern action against illegal mining at Mayurajhalia in Nayagarh’s Ranapur block, the district administration has suspended six officials.

The suspended officials include two Revenue Inspectors (RI), two Section Officers, one Supervisor, and one Junior Revenue Assistant.

FIRs have been lodged at Chandpur Police Station against Susant Kumar Barad, lessee of Mayurjhalia Laterite Quarry, and Shashank Agarwal, Director of M/s Agarwal Infrabuild Private Limited, for illegal extraction of laterite stone/soil/murram beyond the lease area.

FIRs were also lodged against nine officials following an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Speaking about the suspensions, Nayagarh Collector, Rabindranath Sahu said, “We had lodged FIRs at Chandpur Police Station. Government officials and other persons charged in the FIR.”

“Accused officials working at Ranapur Tehsil office and under Nayagarh Collector’s jurisdiction went on leave following registration of FIR and obtained advance bail from the court. They joined duty following the bail. So we were forced to suspend them so that they do not tamper with the documentary evidence at the office,” Sahu added.

On April 20, Collector Sahu and three other persons were booked by Chandpur Police for allegedly seeking a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from a laterite stone mine leaseholder under Ranpur Tehsil. However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) later quashed the complaint and directed to register cases against the complainant instead.