Jajpur, May 3: Hundreds of residents including schoolchildren today took to the streets protesting against illegal quarrying activities in the hillock, famous for Buddhist heritage sites.

Residents of Haridaspur, Kosalia, Kodala, Baligari and Kanchia under Dharmasala tehsil in the district took out a rally raising various slogans. They demanded the immediate arrest of the quarry mafia, who have been allegedly carrying out illegal quarrying activities on the hillock in connivance with the local administration.

Large-scale illegal quarrying has been affecting more than 1,000 residents of five villages living near the hillock. “The use of explosives and running of heavy vehicles have damaged houses, temples and even public institutions and created environmental hazards,” said Bichhanda Biswal, an agitator of Baligari village.

With the illegal mining mafia flattening nearly 60 per cent of the rocky hill, locals are worried about the safety of the century-old temple, located on the hill top.