Post News Network
Jajpur, June 24: Panic gripped farmers in Jakhpura village here after toxic ash water of Visa Steel in adjoining Kalinganagar Industrial Complex inundated over 200 acre of their farmland June 22.
They apprehend that that the toxic water discharged by Visa Steel will destroy their crops as well as the fertility of the soil and will result in making their lands barren for years. Concerned over the development they met the collector and submitted a memorandum in this regard Wednesday.
They alleged that the toxic water discharged by the company at 2pm Monday, gushed through the drain on Biju Patnaik Marg in Kalinganagar and inundated their farmlands. Moreover, the discharged water not only flowed over their farmlands but has also contaminated the water bodies in the village sparking fear of disease among them and causalities of their livestock.
This has left them completely clueless as a bleak future stare at them. Such shortsightedness work of the company without any concern for the farmers has sparked deep resentment among them. They claimed that despite several complaints on pollution have been lodged against Visa Steel but the authorities had never shown any concern for them.
Villagers Ananta Sahu, Kalandi Samal, Ganeshwar Brahma, Murali Behera, Melia Behera, Raj Barik, Upa Sahu, Gobind Panda, Arjun Aich and Padia Mohanty including other villagers claimed that the toxic water had destroyed the fertility of their farmlands which is discharged every year by the company during rainy season. This has intensified the water pollution in the area and has drastically reduced crop output, sarpanch, Pushpakanta Nayak said.
When contacted regional officer Anup Kumar Mallick confirmed of the claims and assured of necessary action. He said to have visited the spot and had reviewed the situation which was done in haste by the company without the necessary sanction of the district administration.
Additional district magistrate Bharat Chandra Behera claimed ignorance on the development but assured of necessary action on receipt of complaints.
