Paradip: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the horticulture department Thursday released a report on the reason behind wilting of leaves in this port town about 20 days back.
OSPCB regional officer Mukesh Mahalinga said release of hydrogen fluoride from a fertilizer unit had led to this situation.
Panic gripped the town August 8 over the suspected release of harmful chemicals as the leaves of several plants were found wilted even after rain. Besides, many trees like acacia, gulmohar, radhachuda, casuarina and kadamba were seen shedding leaves. A thick layer of leaves can be seen on the road, locals said.
The incident was reported in an area between the golf field and the PPL belt line on the Atharabanki-Badapadia main road. The leaves of plants in an area 500 meter wide were seen wilted up to Mahakalapara in Kendrapara district.
While the Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) authorities denied release of any chemical, Twinkle Mohanty, an OSPCB official, collected the plant samples and began a probe.
According to the report, the mixture of hydrogen fluoride and phosphates from PPL was released into the atmosphere for over an hour August 8. Due to excess moisture presence in the atmosphere and monsoon condition, the gas was spread in some areas generating excessive heat. This had led to withering of the leaves, the report said.
Shiva Biswal, secretary of Parivesh Surakhya Trust, lodged a complaint with the pollution control board over the issue. Locals blamed the PPL authorities for the incident, but the latter rubbished the allegation.
OSPCB and horticulture department collected the samples of leaves and soil after the news spread in the media.
While the department claimed that such an incident took place for the first time, locals claimed a similar incident had occurred in July, 2014.
OSPCB, at that time, said the emission of potash from PPL was behind the incident.
PNN
