Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17: The multi-crore mining scam in the state has hit artisans who carve statues out of stone.

They are facing difficulties in procuring stones, most of which are found in the forest areas of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.

Well-known artist Sudarshan Sahoo said, these days artisans in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Khurda depend on the black market for supply of stones as strict adherence to mining and forest laws had almost stopped legal supply.

“We are now getting only layered sandstone that are procured from the open quarries near Tapang and Narangarh in Khurda district. But the supply of special green stones and black granite (chlorite) has stopped,” he said.

Sahoo said the artists approached the authorities concerned, who assured them that the stones would soon be readily available. “But nothing has happened so far,” he rued.

Director, mines, Deepak Mohanty, who joined office a week ago, said the state government had already drafted guidelines for the supply of the stones to artisans through the formation of self-help groups or mining permission granted in favour of organisations such as Orissa State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation and State Institute of Development of Art and Crafts.

“The rules were always there, but now everything has been structured for accountability, as different components, such as forest clearance, mining, planning and calculations on the stone procured and actually used, will be documented,” he said.

The draft guidelines were proposed on February 28 last year and sent to the forest department for reference, as environment clearance is a key component in mining activity.

The forest department secretary sent the letter to the principal chief conservator of forests (territory) on March 31 last year for reference. However, there has been no response from him, sources at the environment and forests department said.

More than 10,000 artisans across Odisha earn their livelihood from stone carving. Most of them are from Khurda, Puri, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Kalahandi, Cuttack, Jajpur, Nuapada and Ganjam districts.

“They are finding it difficult to get stones like black granite, kendumundi, soap stone, red stone and serpentine stone,” the draft document stated.

Director, handicrafts, Nityananda Pallai said: “Decorative stones are governed under a special clause under the Rule 4 (4) of the Orissa Mines and Minerals Concession Rules, 2004. Now, the clearances have become a must to get stones from within or near forest areas. In Mayurbhanj, a process has started to ensure the supply of stones to artisans through the formation of six self-help groups. As Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar have special stones that are in demand for carving, the procurement of stones through the Orissa State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation is in the pipeline.”

But a senior official of the industries department said on condition of anonymity, that the cost of getting clearances to procure the stones was too steep for either small artisans or Orissa State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation to bear.

He said: “The state government has asked firms to follow mining laws strictly. If these laws are also applicable to sculptors or self-help groups, they will have to apply for clearances as per the mining rules. But only well-to-do sculptors can afford the cost. The Orissa State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation is also not interested as they have to invest nearly Rs 6 lakh just to process prospecting licenses in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.”

One of the vital sources of red stone in the region is soon going to be submerged near Basudebpur as a result of the Kanpur Irrigation Project on the Baitarani river. But, the industries department has not tried to rescue the prized stones before the region was transferred to the irrigation department.

“Two years ago the proposed area was transferred to the irrigation department. Now, nothing can be done (to rescue the stones) as the property has already gone to the irrigation department,” said Kushadhar Mohanta, general manager, district industries centre, Keonjhar.

In Mayurbhanj, Khiching is well known as an area where more than 300 artisans do their business. “Forming self-help groups will take time because of an extensive documentation process. In the meantime, we want the collector to do something to help the artisans,” said Jasobant Sahu, general manager, district industries centre, Mayurbhanj.

However, an official of the industries department said that artisans of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar had never asked them for any help to procure stones as they get the supply directly from the source.