Residents of Kankaria gram panchayat in Dhenkanal district have alleged that illegal mining has been going on in over 30 acres of Government land at Kantamalia and Chotatentuli villages under Gondia Block in the district for last one year. A petition to this effect signed by Khankira gram panchayat Sarapanch Manasi Nayak, Ward Members and villagers has been submitted to the district Collector. The signatories alleged that around 50 power tillers, acquired by farmers on subsidies for undertaking agricultural activities, are being used for the rapid cutting of the laterite stones in the illegal quarry. Besides, more than one hundred trucks and twenty tractors are engaged daily to transport the excavated stones to different destinations in order to keep the place clean and avoid raids. Besides, the petition brought to the Collector’s notice that the holes created due to illegal mining have turned death traps for their cattle. Moreover, the Khankira Sarpanch has lodged a complaint that one Rama Das known as the mastermind behind such illegal mining is threatening the villagers of dire consequences if they dare to inform the police regarding mining activities being undertaken by him.