By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: After Kusha Apat , Naba Apat and Sanatan Mahakud called shots for BJD in Odisha mining zone of Keonjhar now turn for Raja Chakra alias Soumya Sankar Chakra.
Raja’s influence has reached at a such a level that mines companies and industrial houses taking his help to get local support during public hearing while mining operations and transportations at Odisha Mining Corporation run mines are under direct control of Raja Chakra. Raja has taken entire control of transportation of minerals from Suakathi mines of OMC in Keonjhar. Sources alleged about Rs 6000 crore annual mining loot going on in Keonjhar. Raja was named as an accused for attacking then Chief Whip now CM Mohan Charan Majhi’s vehicle in 2021.
A confidential report of Keonjhar says “ All Palli Sabhas in all the Industries and Mines in Telkoi and Keonjhar Sadar Constituencies held during last 4 years and more has been entrusted to Raja Chakra at the instance of then SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra. The Police in fact helped Companies to hold Palli Sabhas successfully but Raja Chakra collected nearly Rs 3 Crore to 4 Crore per each Palli Sabha to share it with SP,’.
It further said “ In the process Palli Sabhas in MSP Ltd , Palaspanga, Odisha Sponge Iron Plant, Rungta Mines Kadakala and another for Arcellor Mittal for a Dam project at Bansapal block was taken up vice Chakra,”. Now one can imagine the amount of kick back and patronage Raja Chakra enjoyed in these cases because of direct help from then BJD Government.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during his maiden visit to his home district of Keonjhar soon after assuming charge of the State and led a first ever BJP Government, had announced to reach out to the logical conclusion of mining loot in his district.
One month already passed since the CM Majhi made the announcement putting the illegal mine owners, traders and transporters in hurry but in reality nothing has happened yet.
Neither a single notice has been served on any mining firm or raids were conducted following CM Majhi’s announcement in public that the State Government will certainly penalise those who are looting mineral resources illegally.
Take the case of BJD leader in Keonjhar, Raja Chakra. Raja got huge patronage from the second in command of BJD VK Pandian and Third Man of Naveen Patnaik, Babby Das. Chakra using his clout , successfully influenced then Keonjhar Collector Ashish Thakare and SP Mitrabhanu Mohapatra, both had already shifted from the district following Election Commission of India’s directive during the last concluded Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, run his illegal business.
Knowing well that, VK Pandian and Babby Das also part of this mining loot along with Raja Chakra and shares of this loot reaching to Third Floor , Steel and Mines Department led by Additional Chief Secretary DK Singh kept mum. Mines mafia BJD leader Raja Chakra even has the blessings of CMO’s then powerful Special Secretary DS Kutey, who also faced the wrath of ECI during the last general elections for his pro-BJD dubious role.
The infamous Rs 800-crore Uliburu mining scam of Deepak Steel and Power Ltd, Ram Bahadur Thakur, Indrani Patnaik, B Prabhakaran’s Thriveni Earth Movers Pvt Ltd’s Sub Lease issue, powerful Ahluwalia Brothers dominance in Nuagaon Mines like Big size block, illegal mining by KN Ram Group, Mala Roy Mines, Lal Trade Agencies, KJS Ahluwalia Group, then came a larger scam worth over Rs 60,000 crore mining scam, which was investigated by the Shah Commission on recommendation of Justice MB Shah Commission. Many leading Companies were involved in it.
The Shah Commission had directed the then Naveen Patnaik led BJD Government to collect a fine of about Rs 18,000 crore from 13 mining companies and take action against the mine owners. As per reports, the state government couldn’t collect Rs 2,965 crore. Surprisingly enough, it didn’t take any action against the mine owners.
The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes over another mine scam on December 5, 2022. The Opposition had alleged kickbacks in increasing the lease tenures of some mines.
On May 26 , 2024, just five days before the counting of votes, the former BJP president and the present Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, had said, BJP will reach to the logical conclusion.
