Bhubaneswar: The regional office of the Minis try of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) here Tuesday asked the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) to examine complaints regarding the alleged transportation of iron ore by Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) through a village road in Kendujhar district, which is allegedly causing pollution and inconvenience to locals, and take necessary action in accordance with the law.
In a letter, the MoEFCC’s regional office informed the Member Secretary of the OSPCB that it has received a complaint from senior advocate Sankar Prasad Pani alleging the transportation of iron ore by OMC from the Gandhamardhan Iron Ore Mines, Blocks A and B, through a village road in Talakainsari under Banspal block of the district.
According to the complaint, the movement of heavily loaded vehicles has caused severe dust pollution and spillage of iron ore on the road and nearby agricultural land. The complainants have further alleged that the transportation activities have affected agricultural productivity and created safety risks for local residents, particularly school-going children and elderly persons. The complaint also raised allegations that the village road had been expanded over private and forest land without proper acquisition or payment of compensation.
The MoEFCC regional office has forwarded the complaint to the OSPCB and requested it to examine the matter and take necessary action in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations. The OSPCB has also been asked to submit an Action Taken Report to the ministry’s regional office for further necessary action. The letter was issued by MR Prasad, Scientist ‘C’, Regional Office, MoEFCC, Bhubaneswar.
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