The Brahmani Anchal Suraksha Parishad, Talcher has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to visit the ‘neglected’ Rani Park (a forest park) on the Brahmani river in Talcher and direct the Mahanadi Coalfield ltd (MCl) to construct a boundary wall for its protection.
“Twenty-two years ago, it was decided at a high-level meeting in the presence of the MCl CMD that the Central coal major firm would construct a boundary wall around the park and undertake plantation activities under its CSR plan. Despite many reminders, the MCl has not yet constructed the wall and taken up plantation, which is very important for protection of environment from pollution being created by large scale mining of coal by the MCl,” Parishad chief Bibhudhendra Pratap Das wrote to the CM recently.
Das, a former MlA, too apprised the Chief Minster about requests made to the Union Government in this regard and different replies made by the latter. “In Rajya Sabha in 2005, the then Coal Minister had replied that the boundary was not constructed due to quitting of work by a contractor. last year, the present Coal Minister replied that the wall was not constructed as a case was subjudice. And the Minister recently told the Parliament that construction was not possible due to encroachment.”
Das mentioned that while only 600-metre area out of 4 km has been encroached by private individuals, the rest can be constructed at ease.
“The replies shows how the Union Government is anti-Odisha while its PSU is making profit of more than Rs 7,000 crore per annum from the Talcher Coalfield alone,” alleged Das.
He urged the Chief Minister to visit the park and direct the MCl to construct the boundary wall at the earliest.In another matter, Das has also requested the State Government to direct the MCl to complete the sub-divisional stadium at Talecher, the work of which had begun in 1998. “The stadium work began by the MCl in 1998 has not yet been completed and is not usable for any sport and game.
Putting up of gallery main gate, water supply systems and electrification works are yet to be done,” Das mentioned in a letter to Sports and Youth Services Secretary recently.