Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST
  • Home
  • Trending
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Feature
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • More..
    • Odisha Special
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Careers
    • Sci-Tech
    • Timeout
    • Horoscope
    • Today’s Pic
  • Video
  • Epaper
  • News in Odia
  • Home
  • Trending
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Feature
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • More..
    • Odisha Special
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Careers
    • Sci-Tech
    • Timeout
    • Horoscope
    • Today’s Pic
  • Video
  • Epaper
  • News in Odia
No Result
View All Result
OrissaPOST - Odisha Latest news, English Daily -
No Result
View All Result

Land left fallow as steel firm pukes toxic water

Eco damaging

Post News Network
Updated: May 25th, 2020, 10:35 IST
in State
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on Linkedin

Jajpur: Over 200 acres of farmland near Kalinganagar here have remained uncultivated due to alleged discharge of toxic water by a private steel firm, a report said.

The toxic water has destroyed the micro-organisms boosting the soil fertility resulting in the farmlands remaining uncultivated, farmers alleged. Many farmers have been compelled to leave cultivation and do odd jobs to earn a living as yield from the farmlands was reducing.

Also Read

RCB, Stampede Case

Two Maoists with bounty of Rs 5 lakh each arrested in Odisha’s Malkangiri

12 hours ago
Bhadrak

Internet shutdown extends in Bhadrak till 6 pm amid tension over deadly clash

17 hours ago

The discharge of toxic water has also led to spread of skin diseases in the area, residents alleged.

Hundreds of farmers under the banner of Kalinganagar Parivesh Surakshya Samiti (KPSS), an environmental outfit, have lodged a complaint against the steel firm with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB).

Taking cognisance of the development, the member secretary, OSPCB in a letter (dated-19.05.2020) has directed the district collector of Jajpur to probe the charges and submit a report to him. Later, the OSPCB in a report to the district collector has said that the steel firm is acting as per the guidelines of the pollution body in treatment of waste water.

Sources said Visa Steel was established in the area as part of the industrialisation policy of the state government.  The OSPCB allowed the firm to operate on the condition that it will not discharge a drop of waste water outside.

However, the plant was found violating the agreement over the last five years and discharging its waste water to farmlands in the adjoining areas on a regular basis, members of KPSS alleged.  There are instances wherein OSPCB served 10 show-cause notices and even served closure notice on Visa Steel but that has failed to deter the latter, the activists alleged.

Human rights activist Susant Das alleged that the company manages to get a positive report from the OSPCB laboratory in its favour each time a complaint is made against it.  This has happened due to alleged connivance of the firm with three technicians working in the OSPCB laboratory, Das claimed.

While one of the technicians has been posted in the OSPCB laboratory for the last 22 years, two others have been working there for the last 15 years, he added.

This correspondent visited the farmlands to take stock of the charges when farmers Ramesh Chandra Brahma and Ghauri Behera showed him how the soil has turned black due to discharge of toxic water by the steel firm. As a result, it has become impossible to raise any crop on their farmlands for the last five years. Paddy crops and vegetables have stopped germinating on their farmlands, the farmers alleged.

Farmer Shyamasundar Behera, who is also a ward member in Jakhpura panchayat, alleged he has become financially ruined as he is unable to raise any crop on his farmland due to toxic discharge of water by the steel firm. He alleged that OSPCB is not taking any steps in this regard which has only emboldened the steel firm.

When contacted, Sandip Mishra, human resources officer of Visa Steel, said all steps are being taken to treat the water of the plant and rainwater as per OSPCB guidelines.

PNN

Tags: JajpurKALINGANAGAROSPCBToxic water
ShareTweetSendShare
Suggest A Correction

Enter your email to get our daily news in your inbox.

 

OrissaPOST epaper Sunday POST OrissaPOST epaper

Click Here: Plastic Free Odisha

#MyPaperBagChallenge

Lopali Pattnaik

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Anup Mahapatra

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Mrutyunjaya Behera

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Anshuman Sahoo

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Akshaya Kumar Dash

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Parbati Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Rajashree Pravati Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Pratik Kumar

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Tabish Maaz

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Sarfraz Ahmad

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Sibarama Khotei

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Keshab Chandra Rout

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Arya Ayushman

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Ramakanta Sahoo

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Rajashree Manasa Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Jyotshna Mayee Pattnaik

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Priyabrata Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Debasis Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Smitarani Sahoo

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Spinoj Pattnaik

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Adweeti Bhattacharya

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Swarit Praharaj

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Aman Kumar Barisal

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Ankita Balabantray

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Ipsita

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Saishree Satyarupa

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Subhajyoti Mohanty

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Matrumangal Jena

December 12, 2019
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Praptimayee Biswal

December 12, 2019
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
#MyPaperBagChallenge

Dibya Ranjan Das

December 12, 2019

Archives

Editorial

Clash of Titans

June 11, 2025

The world is watching with bated breath the fierce showdown between the richest man on earth Elon Musk and the...

Read more

Basics of Diplomacy

Diplomacy
June 10, 2025

It is unfortunate that India has finally got an invitation to attend the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, to be...

Read more

Manipur Again

Manipur
June 9, 2025

More than two years after violent ethnic strife erupted in Manipur that claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians and...

Read more

Doomsday Clock

Aakar Patel
June 8, 2025

The Doomsday Clock is a visual tool designed to warn the public about how close humans are to destroying our...

Read more
  • Home
  • State
  • Metro
  • National
  • International
  • Business
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
Developed By Ratna Technology

© 2024 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

  • News in Odia
  • Orissa POST Epaper
  • Video
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Metro
  • State
  • Odisha Special
  • National
  • International
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Editorial
  • Entertainment
  • Horoscope
  • Careers
  • Feature
  • Today’s Pic
  • Opinion
  • Sci-Tech
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs

© 2024 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST

    • News in Odia
    • Orissa POST Epaper
    • Video
    • Home
    • Trending
    • Metro
    • State
    • Odisha Special
    • National
    • International
    • Sports
    • Business
    • Editorial
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscope
    • Careers
    • Feature
    • Today’s Pic
    • Opinion
    • Sci-Tech
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs

    © 2024 All rights Reserved by OrissaPOST