Jajpur: The proposed expansion of a cement plant on the fringes of Jajpur and Cuttack districts has met with hurdles as locals decided to oppose its public hearing at Amiyajhari in Jajpur district November 28, a report said Thursday.
The opposition of locals stems from the fact that the expansion will result in severe air and water pollution in the area. This apart, the expansion might lead to severe water scarcity as the plant will require over 680 cubic litre of groundwater for its daily operation due to absence of a natural water body in the area .
The cement plant in question is Orissa Cement Ltd (OCL) at Biswali on the fringes of Jajpur and Cuttack districts.
The plant named Kapilas Cement Manufacturing Works plans to expand its 1.70mt cement grinding unit to 4.20mt annually. The plant will spend over Rs 300 crore for the expansion for which the state pollution control board has called for a public hearing at Amiyajhari November 28.
Sources said that OCL has acquired 348 acres for the plant out of which 152.262 acres is private land while the status of 183.77 acres of government land has been changed to suit the purpose of OCL. Moreover, the cement firm has received environmental sanction for the surplus 11.97 acre of forest land.
The cement firm has announced to build green cover on 115 acres. However, it has allegedly not taken any step in this regard. It is apprehended that the plant authorities will construct several borewells on the plant premises to draw water from the ground. This will worsen the ground water situation in the area.
Notably, the executive engineer of rural water supply and sanitation department in a letter (516, dated-1.3.2016) has admitted that the water level in the area is going down day by day, especially during summer as various industrial firms are drawing water by erecting several borewells on their premises. Observers claimed that in this context if the OCL uses 680 cubic litres of ground water per day it will deprive residents of drinking water.
Locals alleged that the firm will require labourers during expansion works but it is allegedly hiring workers from outside. It is alleged that the expansion will affect the natural habitat of wild animals and birds in the nearby jungle and will result in man-animal conflict in near future.
When contacted, Balaram Bhuyan, manager corporate affairs of OCL said there is no reason for the residents to oppose the expansion of the plant. He said that the firm is taking every step to combat pollution in the area and has planted trees and constructed a green belt on 33 per cent of land it has acquired.
PNN
