A'garh steel firm sealed as owner unavailable

The Hardev Steel Company factory in Athagarh sub-division has been sealed by the local Divisional Forest Officer in the wake of the killing a pregnant elephant on its premises on Saturday night.

According to sources, the company authorities used groundwater through bore-wells for its production work for long through heavy water lifting machines by using power. 

When the elephant entered into the premises, which was an elephant corridor, it came in contact with live wires used for water lifting and died. 

locals shocked over the incident gathered accusing the company authorities of killing of the pachyderm. 

DFO Arun Kumar Mishra and the Gurudijhatia police has sealed the factory and declared that unless its owner and manager either surrender before the police for their negligence, the factory gate would not be opened.

It is not the only case of this company; rather almost all the industrial units established here deviate from their MoUs and use groundwater for their production activities, for which the level of groundwater in the sub-division has receded drastically leading to problems for local people.