Maneswar: A crusher unit of ARSS, a reputed construction firm, still continues to operate in Jamtal village under Jujumura tehsil in Sambalpur district flouting the term of ‘Consent to Operate’, locals alleged.
Though the firm has not been granted further stone quarry lease in the area, the violation has not drawn any action from the state pollution control board (SPCB) which is surprising, the locals said.
It is alleged that the SPCB officials have issued a show-cause notice to the firm which was nothing but eyewash. The illegal operation of the unit has irked the villagers and they sought the intervention of the collector and action against it.
According to reports, the permission to run the crusher unit had expired March 31, 2015. Following this, the SPCB had served a show-cause notice on the firm. However, the authorities didn’t bother to comply with the notice and have been running the unit illegally for the last one year. It seems that the firm has got the backing of the pollution control authorities, it is alleged.
Locals demanded that a probe be conducted as to how the unit manages to produce tonnes of stone chips without having the lease in its favour.
It may be noted that the firm had managed to get permission from the concerned authorities in 2010 to run the unit despite strong opposition from the local people. Since then, people of Mundher and nearby villages are in a miserable state.
While the village roads have been damaged beyond repair due to plying of heavy vehicles of the firm, locals find it difficult to adjust to the problem of dust pollution which is becoming rampant in the area.
SPCB regional manager Hemendra Nayak said a fresh notice was served on the firm last week. Soon, officials would seal the unit if it fails to comply with the notice, he added. PNN
