Farmer ends life after crop loss caused due to black stone mining near farmland

BHUBANESWAR: A poor farmer in Odisha’s Jajpur district who had grown paddy by borrowing money from neighbours allegedly died on Monday after consuming pesticide following crop loss caused largely due to black stone mining activities adjacent to his farmland. The deceased was identified as Nityananda Parida of Bajabati village under Dharmashala police limits.

According to sources, the 50-year-old Parida had sown paddy in two acres of his land. He was expecting a good harvest so that he could repay all his debts. However, his hopes were dashed due to heavy crop loss.

Under stress, he reportedly consumed poison following which he was rushed to Dharmashala Community Health Centre (CHC). After preliminary treatment, he was referred to Cuttack-based SCB Medical College and Hospital for better treatment. However, he breathed his last on Monday morning.

The farmer’s death sparked outrage in the village as family members accused a stone mafia of illegally running a stone quarry and blasting near the paddy fields that destroyed the standing paddy crops.

“He had borrowed money for paddy cultivation and was under stress due to crop loss. He had been suffering crop loss for the last few years. A stone mafia has been running a quarry near the paddy fields because of which cultivation has been affected,” alleged Parida’s daughter Jhunulata Parida.

Similarly, Parida’s brother Paramanand alleged, “The water required for paddy fields is drying due to the stone quarry. We have been facing losses due to the stone quarry for the last 4-5 years. We have complained in this connection, but no one pays heed to our issues.”