Paradip: Panic gripped this port town in Jagatsinghpur district Wednesday over the suspected release of harmful chemicals as the leaves of several plants were found wilted even after rain.
This apart, the leaves of plants in a particular area were seen withered after heavy rain. This is due to the chemicals released by industries, locals said.
Meanwhile, a team from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) reached the area and collected samples of the wilted leaves as news spread. The samples would be sent for examination, OSPCB members said.
The incident was reported in an area between golf field and the PPL belt line on Atharabanki-Badapadia main road. The leaves of plants in an area 500 meter wide were seen wilted up to Mahakalpara in Kendrapara district.
Besides, many trees like acacia, krushnachuda, radhachuda, casuarina and kadamba were seen shedding leaves. A thick layer of leaves can be seen on the road, locals said.
It may be recalled that a similar incident had occurred in July 2014. OSPCB, at that time, said the emission of potash from Paradip Phosphates Limited (PPL), a fertiliser manufacturing unit, was behind the incident. This may be a repetition of that incident as it was reported at the PPL belt line.
Chemicals like sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, ammonia and potash are unloaded and brought to the plant on the belt line. So, locals suspect that this might have caused acid rain on the outskirts of the town.
While the PPL authorities denied release of any chemical, Twinkle Mohanty, an engineer of OSPCB, said the sample examination report would reveal the cause of the incident. Then the board would take action against the company concerned, Mohanty added.
