Nabarangpur: At least 25 cattle have died after allegedly consuming contaminated water discharged from a maize processing unit in Nabarangpur district, triggering tension and protests in the area. Residents of Bamuni and Kusumpali villages under Rajoda panchayat of Kosagumuda block alleged that toxic effluents released from the Vijayanagar Biotech maize factory near their villages led to the deaths. Villagers claimed that more than 50 cattle have died over the past 15 days due to exposure to the polluted water.
Locals accused the factory authorities of releasing untreated waste and effluents into open areas instead of storing them safely, leading to the incident. The situation turned tense as villagers demanded immediate action against the unit.
On being informed, Nabarangpur MLA Gouri Shankar Majhi and District Collector Maheshwar Swain visited the site and took stock of the situation. When questioned by the Collector about the discharge of toxic water, factory officials reportedly failed to provide any satisfactory answer.
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On the other hand, the factory authorities attempted to cover up the discharge point of the contaminated water with soil after learning about the visit of the Collector and MLA, the villagers alleged. The Collector and MLA said that water samples would be tested by the State Pollution Control Board and the Water Resources Department, and an inquiry would be conducted into the allegations. The factory, set up by an Andhra Pradesh-based company, had initially faced local opposition before commencing operations with community support.
However, villagers Dharamdas Bhatra, Mohan Chalan, Pradip Kumar Bhuyan, hailing from Bamuni, Kusumpali, Bhaluguda, Kidripali, Kotniaguda and Chhelipadar, now allege severe problems due to air and water pollution from the unit. Veterinary officials have conducted post-mortem examinations of the cattle carcass. Villagers have demanded compensation for the losses and immediate closure of the factory. Factory authorities could not be reached for comment.
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