Jajpur: Rising pollution level due to the continuous discharge of industrial waste from various plants in Kalinganagar in Jajpur district has sent the alarm bells ringing.
Locals alleged that plants like Nilachal Ispat, Jindal Stainless Steel, Visa Steel, BRPL and Mesco Steel regularly discharge tonnes of waste which are highly toxic in nature.
This has pushed the lives of residents in Manpur, Sarangpur, Kudumisahi and Tata Colony in Kalinganagar as well as in adjoining Sukinda and Vyasanagar to the point of brink.
The discharged industrial wastes have accumulated over the years, posing serious health hazards to the residents by getting mixed with the soil, atmosphere, rivers and groundwater.
The situation has arisen as industrial units which have come up in the Kalinganagar Industrial Complex never spared a thought for proper waste management.
The plants have ignored the guidelines on waste management issued by the state and central pollution control boards.
This was confirmed when a team of the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) collected water samples of Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers and conducted a test at its central laboratory in January.
The tests pointed out presence of eight to 10 times more phenolic and cyanide compound in the water which is highly dangerous.
Besides, lead and mercury which are extremely dangerous for human and animal health are also found in river and groundwater.
The seriousness of the problem can be gauged from the fact many people in Manpur, Sarangpur, Kudumisahi and Tata Colony have died of various diseases in recent times.
Since then, three months have passed but no adequate steps have been taken to address the problem.
The Central Pollution Control Board except rejecting a plea by Nilachal Ispat to operate its coke oven and sinter plant for its failure to install online monitoring system and upgrade its bio-chemical oxygen demand has done nothing tangible to check pollution. Even Visa Steel is regularly discharging waste in Jakhpura nullah, but no steps have been taken against it yet, a report said.
OSPCB regional manager Anup Kumar Mallick said efforts are being made to install online monitoring system on the banks of Brahmani and Kharasrota. PNN