The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) to submit a detailed report about the initiatives taken against mining pollution in the State by August 2.
CPCB Member-Secretary AB Akolkar in his letter informed that a Parliamentary committee meeting held in June has stressed on taking adequate measures to check negative impact of all mining operations, excepting coal, on the environment.
Accordingly, the Central board has sought a report from the OSPCB about steps taken by the State Government to control the pollution.
After receiving the letter, the State board has asked the Regional Pollution Control Board Officers (RCPOs) of Angul, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Baleswar, Keonjhar, Rourkela, Rayagada, Brahmapur, Kalinganagar and Cuttack to send a detailed report about non-coal mining operations by July 29.
The RPCOs have been directed to send the report in a form in which they need to mention the details about the mining firms, project names and status of environment clearance.
Apart from it, they have been asked to mention about the status of the mining operations, condition of water and air, utilisation of waste water, excess mining operation, if any and measures taken for prevention of pollution.
Besides, the officers have been asked to submit a comparative report about the percentage of air, water and sound pollution.
After getting reports from RPCBs, the OSPCB would provide its report to the CPCB before August 2, said sources.