Jajpur /Kalinganagar: Even as the steel sector is going through a slump, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) Friday served a closure notice on Jakhapura-based Visa Steel plant in Kalinganagar Industrial Area for failing to comply with pollution control norms.
The notice came on the orders of the OSPCB chairperson after the company was found violating pollution norms under Section 21 and 31(A) of Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981 and under Section 25 and 33(A) of Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974.
It was learnt that several units of the plant will be sealed Saturday on instructions from the collector.
The closure notice dealt a blow to the company at a time when the steel market has hit the rock bottom due to global slowdown.
While Kalinganagar-based Jindal and Mahaveer Ferro Alloys were served the closure notices earlier in 2014, VISA Steel was the third company to be served with the notice. The company had been served closure notices four times last year—the last two ones being served June 24 and September 29. Locals hailed the action by OSPCB against the company. Several complaints were lodged against the company by residents of Jakhpura and Kudumisahi areas which were allegedly affected by pollution. Oriya daily Dharitri had reported the matter earlier.
Even after several notices, the company did not adhere to pollution control norms. Later, a team of senior officials from OSPCB (Bhubaneswar) and Kalinganagar administration paid a visit to the company October 26 and 27 respectively and found it violating various pollution control norms. The sponge iron unit was causing severe air pollution, leading to respiratory problems in the locality.
All the roads connecting the company were in bad shape while housekeeping and waste management were not satisfactory unlike other factories, it was learnt. The plant released polluted water into farmland, adding to the woes of farmers in the area where crop production was affected. The officials had noticed several anomalies in its iron ore crushing unit and screen and transfer points. They lacked proper pollution control systems.
Later, OSPCB served closure notices on the company that had two sponge iron plants with a capacity of producing 500 tonne daily and 16.5 mva Ferro Alloy Plant after finding violations in 19 cases. The company will remain closed unless steps were taken to rectify the inconsistencies in a stipulated time, the notice directed.
“The closure notice was served after regularly monitoring the activities of the company, which failed to comply with directives of the pollution regulator. Necessary evidence in this regard were collected,” said regional officer of OSPCB Anup Kumar Mallick. PNN
