Post News Network
Jajpur, August 29: Sacrificing lands for setting up of companies here in Jajpur district has become a bane for people as acute pollution from the plants has allegedly claimed over 150 lives in the form of kidney ailments and tuberculosis.
The residents instead of tasting the fruits of growth are now being crushed under pollution discharged from various plants in Kalinganagar Industrial Complex. This has turned the region into a deathtrap as precious lives are lost one after another. Sources said over 150 persons died during last five years of tuberculosis and kidney ailments while many more are battling for their lives.
This has happened duo to the heavy pollution emanating from various plants. Residents blamed the profiteering attitude of the plant authorities for the rise in pollution. Setting up of industries is essential for growth of state and the country but the plant authorities never show any concern for the local residents once the plant gets functional.
They are only keen to serve their own interest completely ignoring the interest of the locals living in peripheries. They allegedly manipulate papers and connive with various stakeholders like State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and cause air and water pollution with impunity.
Plants like Jindal, Visa, Nilachal Ispat and Mesco, Yazdani and Maithan Ispat not installing water treatment plant as well as a special pollution control machines in their plants are cases in point. Cleaners in these plants are lying defunct for several years while the filter bags too are not working.
The ESP machines installed in the plants are not operated regularly following which a dense fog of black ash envelops the atmosphere in the area. It is more acute in the evening and lasts till next morning.
Its traces can be found on houses, trees, water bodies and on roads while people’s clothes get stained due to these pollutants. The pollution is more acute in panchayts like Gobarghati, Olia, Sansailo, Duburi, Baragadia and Sarangpur of Sukinda block and in Chandia, Nadiabhanga, Dhuligada, Trijanga, Mantira, Jakhpura, Kindirigadia of Danagadi blocks where thick layers of black ash float on the water bodies. The water has become unfit for consumption. Food never gets cooked in this water. However, the people do not have any alternative and are forced to use the water for all purposes including cooking and drinking. Similarity, cattle eating grasses and leaves covered with ash get affected by various diseases.
When contacted, regional officer of SPCB Anup Kumar Mallick rejected the claims saying it would be wrong to blame pollution as the only reason for the deaths. He further said his department was constantly monitoring the pollution issue.
