The Odisha High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct a fresh study on the pollution of Brahmani river and submit a report.
A Division Bench of the court comprising Justices Injrajit Mohanty and AS Parija issued the directive to the CPCB after it found the report of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) in this connection unsatisfactory.It is worthwhile to mention that the High Court has filed a suo motu case following reports that the Brahmani and its tributaries are being polluted due to rampant chromite mining in the Sukinda area in Jajpur district.
The OSPCB, in its report submitted in the court, had stated that it had formed a five-member committee that surveyed the Sukinda valley area for three days from April 22 to 24 and studied the air and water pollution levels. The committee observed that the chromite content in the river water is under manageable limits.However, the court, expressing displeasure over the report, directed the CPCB to conduct a fresh study and submit its report. The court also directed the State Government to bear all expenses towards the survey by the CPCB. The survey would be conducted in the presence of the representatives of the CPCB and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the court directed.