Rourkela: The unabated dumping of black charcoal, an industrial byproduct from the sponge iron plants, is posing severe environmental hazards to Sankh river, one of the major tributaries of Brahmani river.
Locals, who didn’t want to be identified, said the sand mafia is responsible for the pollution as well as illegal lifting of sand from the river bed. “They have been doing this with impunity,” said one of them. Elaborating further, he said, “The mafias have made roads on the river bed using large cement hume pipes so that they can cross to the other side of the river and mine sand sans permission.”
A visit to the spot confirmed that black charcoals have been kept on the river bed. When asked, another local said, “These are put on the river bed for construction of makeshift roads for sand extraction. They also put large hume pipes on the river bed for passage of water and they construct roads using the same industrial waste to reach the other side of the river.” The makeshift bridge is not visible at this moment due to the increase in water inflow. “Just fifteen days back the bridge was visible,” he informed.
One person has been awarded the lease of Vedvyas side of Sankh river for mining sand. However, there are always complaints of excessive mining and at the same time, the presence of many operators, the sand mafias.
Black charcoal is causing problems for the locals who depend on the river for irrigation, fishing, bathing and domestic use. “Now, we are experiencing severe itching after taking bath in the river and the water is not safe for drinking purposes,” said a person who stays nearby. Even the availability, variety and quality of fish in the river have also been affected.
When this was brought to the notice of tehsildar Lathikata Nandita Kujur, she informed that she was in know of things and taking necessary actions against it. “It came to my notice only yesterday and now I am investigating it. I asked the RI for a spot visit and he did that yesterday. He confirmed the dumping of black charcoals in the river,” she said.
When asked about the steps taken in this regard, she said, “I talked to the leaseholder who is outside at this moment and ordered him to take immediate action to clean whatever has been dumped is there. He said he would do it.” “I have brought this to the notice of the state pollution control board officials and have asked them to take necessary actions,” she added.
By Rajesh Mohanty, OP
