Joda: Rampant mining activities have caused severe water pollution in creeks, streams and rivers, apart from taking a heavy toll on the environment in Joda mining area in Keonjhar.
Worst affected by mining-induced pollution is Suna river, which is dubbed as the lifeline of people in Joda town. The river, say locals, is getting narrower by the day and its depth is also shrinking.
Concerned residents and environmentalists fear that the river may slowly be polluted beyond recourse if no steps are taken to check inflow of waste and mining pollutants into it.
Waste and effluents from mines, earth dumps and soil erosion in the river basin area are polluting the Suna, locals and environmentalists noted.
The 46-km river, which originates from Patulai Patamunda area in Sundargarh district and merges with river Brahmani at Kandara under Joda block, has been carrying along with it
all kinds of mining waste and effluents.
“The river is getting silted but no steps have been taken to stop pollution from the mines,” locals said.
The waste of manganese mines 9 and 10 of Tata in Malda area is released into Suna. Besides, the river receives pollutants and waste in Roida, Keta hutting, Baru hutting, and OMC mining area.
Locals accused mining companies and the Joda civic body authorities of not paying heed to check pollution in the river.
On the increasing pollution in the Suna, former deputy chairperson of Joda municipality Purusottam Das said, “The condition of Suna river is getting worse due to pollution. Mines on the banks of the river at Roida, Katasahi, Chormalda, Khandabandh and other areas are not treating their waste before releasing it into the river, which is being silted. Contaminated water of drains and sewers in Joda town is also flowing into the river without being treated,” Das said.
He said neither the government nor the mining firm is paying attention to this problem, with the latter not taking its corporate social responsibility seriously in keeping the river clean and free from pollution.
Earlier, former Champua MLA Jitu Patnaik had proposed to clean the Suna at a cost of
`4 crore, but no action has been taken on his proposal.
Local environmentalist Kalakar Nayak expressed deep concern over severe pollution of Suna. During the rainy season, waste from mines gets washed off from iron and manganese mines and gets deposited in the river. Industrial units and mining firms are not doing soil conservation work in project areas to check draining of waste into river, he added.
“Earlier, people used to bathe in Suna in Bilaepada, but its water is too polluted to be fit for bathing now. If you take a bath here, it will lead to all sorts of skin diseases,” said Mahendra Ghana, a resident of Bileipada.
Locals suggested that the river be dredged and cleaned with funds from District Mineral Fund. PNN
