Polluting JSL plants sealed in Odisha

Odisha Channel Bureau Jajpur, Nov 15: The Jajpur district administration has cracked its whip on errant Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL) plant, located in Kalinganagar steel hub by ordering closure of three units of the private plant.After being directed by the Jajpur collector, local Tehsildar Saroj Kumar Behera, senior officials of the deputy director of mines at Jajpur Road accompanied by Kalinganagar inspector-in-charge Jyoti Prakash Panda rushed to the spot this afternoon and closed Coke Oven (CO), Cold Rolling Mill (CRM) and bye product units of the plant.District Collector Anil Kumar Samal on Saturday took this decision on the recommendation of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).The SPCB in its investigation found that the JSL plant causing severe water pollution by discharging its solid waste including poisonous substances like phenol and cyanide to the Gunda Nal which is depended by thousands of people both for drinking and irrigation purpose for the last couple of years.The SPCB authorities took this step after estimate committee of Odisha State Assembly during its visit to Kalinganagar Industrial complex area visited the Ganda Nala on October 30 and also detected severe water pollution in Ganda Nala.The committee expressed strong displeasure and asked the SPBC authorities to conduct immediate inquiry into it and report compliance.Earlier, the JSL plant management was asked by the district administration no to discharge its affluent to the nearby Ganda nala which is depended by thousands of people in the area time and again.The errant plant management was not paying the heed to carry out even the directive of the district magistrate and collector.“Earlier, I got several complaints from the general public in Kalinga Nagar regarding the pollution of Ganda Nala water caused by the JSL plant authorities.The plant authorities have been discharging their solid waste including poisonous substances causing severe water pollution of the Nala which is depended by thousands of people both for drinking and irrigation purpose for the last couple of years. I had warned the plant authorities relating to the water pollution.But, they paid no heed to my directive,” said Jajpur Collector Anil Kumar Samal.Estimate Committee during its visit to the Kalinga Nagar Industrial complex area saw the Ganda Nal and detected its severe pollution.They had directed the SPCB to investigate the matter.Inquiry report found them guilty.Accordingly on the report, SPCB directed me to close the units of the JSL which causing the pollution.JSL management could not be contacted after repeated attempt.