Cuttack: In response to alleged illegal mining despite Supreme Court directions, Orissa high court has issued interim directions to law enforcement and transport authorities to curb such unauthorised activities in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts.A division bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman, while hearing a PIL on Tuesday, observed that although the SC had earlier shown “deep concern over the mining scandal of enormous proportions” in Odisha, “the reality is a far cry”. The court referred to the SC verdict in the ‘Common Cause vs Union of India and Others (2017)’ case, which had laid down multiple safeguards to check illegal mining.Stating that “each day of permitting such illegal mining to continue causes a loss to the national assets”, the bench directed SPs of both districts to deploy adequate police personnel at mining sites and take immediate action after verifying documents.The regional transport officer was also ordered to form special teams to intercept vehicles transporting minerals across the state and to seize those lacking valid documents under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.Jayanta Kumar Rout and four others filed the petition alleging indiscriminate blasting by mining mafias and “complacency on the part of the administration”, stating that illegal mining was continuing not only in Mayurbhanj but had also spread to Balasore. The bench noted that minerals are “natural resources and assets of the govt” and stressed that failure to act results in loss to national wealth, particularly in tribal-dominated areas. While advocate Lalatendu Samantaray appeared on behalf of the petitioners, additional govt advocate Sanjay Rath represented the state.The court noted that while govt submission detailed steps taken in Mayurbhanj, there was “complete conscious silence” on Balasore. It also recorded that a communication dated Sept 23, 2025, from the mining officer of Mayurbhanj to his Balasore counterpart had flagged illegal excavation by mafias from Balasore using heavy machinery in Mayurbhanj.The bench further observed, “So far as Mayurbhanj district is concerned, it is dominantly occupied by the tribal areas, and we have no hesitation in understanding the demography of Balasore being adjacent district may also have the same population. The steps and the remedial measure as suggested/directed by the Supreme Court has not been put with full rigour and force; had it been so, rampant illegal mining in the district of Mayurbhanj would not have been possible.“The state has been granted three weeks to file an affidavit. The matter will be heard next on March 10.
