Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi/Medininagar: A raid conducted by Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore two days ago in the Renginia forest area of Chhatarpur, Palamu, has exposed serious lapses by the district administration and police, after the minister and his team seized a poclain machine and three 18-wheeler trailers engaged in illegal soil and morrum mining.
Task Force’s Silence Comes Under Scrutiny
While the raid itself targeted illegal mining of soil and morrum, the aftermath has put the spotlight squarely on the heads of Palamu’s police and district administration, as well as the inexplicable silence of the district-level task force that was supposedly constituted to act against such activities.
Minister Reveals Repeated Complaints Went Unheeded
Speaking to the media, the Finance Minister revealed that local residents had informed him about tractors carrying morrum 15 days prior to the raid. He had asked them to inform the police, which they did, but no action was taken. The villagers then approached the Circle Officer, but action was not taken at that level either. As a result, despite being occupied with Rajya Sabha election duties, the minister was compelled to personally intervene and carry out the raid himself.
Large-Scale Illegal Mining Sends Material to Bihar
Illegal soil and morrum mining is being carried out on a massive scale in Palamu, with the material being transported to Bihar via trailers. Neither the police at the mining sites nor along the transport routes intervene to stop this activity. The identities of those involved in this trade are reportedly well known, and senior district officials have repeatedly been informed, yet no action has followed — raising serious questions about why enforcement has consistently failed to materialise.
