By Our Correspondent
ROURKELA/BHUBANESWAR: Shri Mahavir Ferro Alloys Private Limited, the Kolkata headquarters and having plant at IDC Kalunga in Sundargarh district of Odisha, owned by Vicky Jain and Suresh Chand Jain, has came under scanner after leading environment and wildlife activists alleging rampant violation of pollution and wildlife laws.
“A raid by CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax and GST Squad at company’s locations at Kolkata in West Bengal and in Rourkela in Odisha would expose Shri Mahavir Ferro Alloys Private Limited illegal business,” said an activist in Bhubaneswar. The Company also a key player of South-Eastern Railway in freight and mineral transportations, which is also, needs a probe. The National Green Tribunal has several times expressed its concern over growing pollution in Sundargarh.
Shri Mahavir Ferro Alloys Private Limited has violated pollution control act of 1986, air pollution control act of 1981, water pollution control act of 1974 and forest rights act of 1980, said another activist in Rourkela adding that the Company was supposed to start operation with clearance of air and water pollution control under various acts like Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and consent to operate under the Water (PCP) Act, 1974 and Air (PCP) Act, 1981 but it has crossed all limits. River Brahmani is also facing danger due to rampant illegal activities.
Locals in Sundargarh alleged that the company has been violating forest and wildlife laws .The Company, is also creating air and water pollution while defying orders of Odisha State Pollution Control Board and Union Forest and Environment Ministry.
Action should have taken against the company under Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Odisha Forest Act-1972 and Mines and Minerals Act, they added.
Company which operating without valid consent to operate should have been issued closure directions or will be prosecuted as per the provisions in Water (PCP) Act, 1974 and Air(PCP) Act, 1981.While granting “consent to operate”, it will be ensured that the proponent has obtained all other statutory clearances under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.The Company has no respect to labour laws, they said.
Meanwhile, upping the ante against various iron and steel industries including Shri Mahavir Ferro Alloys Pvt. Ltd for violating pollution control norms, villagers of Kalunga, Kuanrmunda, Kansbahal, Lathikata, Rourkela, Bonai, Rajgangpur, Biramitrapur and Bonai industrial clusters in Sundargarh district have threatened to launch agitation if the situation fails to improve. These industrial units are accused of not operating power-intensive pollution control equipment, Electro Static Precipitator, to save cost at the expense of environment and villagers.
Local political leaders however said as the industries including Shree Mahavir Ferro Alloys Pvt. Ltd are deliberately not operating pollution control equipment, the air is filled with smoke while black layers of fine burnt coal dust cover water bodies, trees and plants, farmland and roofs of house, they said and added that due to inaction of OSPCB, the situation is aggravating and several villagers have developed respiratory problems due to rampant pollution.
Sundargarh district has many large scale as well as small scale steel and sponge iron industries including Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). Some areas of the district like Kansbahal, Lathikata, Rourkela, Kalunga, Bonai, Rajgangpur, Kuanrmunda and Biramitrapur have hundreds of medium and small scale industries.
Likewise, there are about 33 mines of high-quality iron, chromite, dolomite, bauxite, coal and manganese ores operating under Rourkela and Koida mining circles of which Hemgir block has four mines.
However, prolonged industrialisation process including construction of Rourkela-Sambalpur Biju Expressway and widening of many district-roads has destroyed a large part of the forest cover in the district.
Rapid loss of forest cover in the district has imbalanced its ecology. The lost forest cover is not being restored, nor fresh afforestation is being taken up by mining companies and industrial houses here.
This has given rise to excessive pollution in Sundargarh district and it has assumed alarming proportions. Kuanrmunda industrial cluster alone houses over 20 industries including eight sponge iron plants besides induction furnaces, fire brick kilns and chemical units.
These industrial units are accused of not operating power-intensive pollution control equipment and electro-static precipitators, to save cost at the expense of environment and life of local denizens.
A dozen of pollution-intensive sponge-iron plants of Bonai industrial cluster has made life miserable by polluting air, water and soil. It is claimed that due to high pollution levels, several people have died of kidney disease while some others are suffering from the ailment.
Carrying mineral ores and raw materials, releasing dust particles from mines and factories, emitting smoke from chimneys and discharging untreated industrial wastes have aggravated pollution.
No noticeable action is being taken against the violators of norms. Industrial units and mining companies in Sundargarh district go on flouting the guidelines of the state pollution control board.
Most of the district-roads have dilapidated and there are severe traffic snarls throughout the district which have sparked resentment among the intelligentsia and local people. In such a situation, the district administration shows an apathetic attitude to the rising problem.
On the other hand, no special corridors are being constructed in Sundargarh district for the transportation of minerals and ores. Moreover, fly-ashes coming from neighbouring Jharsuguda district cover up the bordering farmlands here, some farmers alleged.
Attempts should be made to select suitable plant species for green belt development at several strategically significant regions of Sundargarh district. Plants are considered to be most effective in pollution abatement and serve as sinks for various pollutants.
