It has been a month since a fire broke out in MCl's Samleshwari opencast mine (SOCM) destroying thousands of tonnes of coal and covering the mine in smoke and ash. Thick smoke billowed into the sky and left fire fighters with a challenging task.
Brajrajnagar MlA Radharani Panda has complained to district Collector BB Patnaik regarding the fire in SOCM coal stock. The Collector assured to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Coal Movers Association and the Brajrajnagar Truck Owners Association accused the SOCM of dispatching the stock of burning coal. They alleged that due to this, many coal-loaded trucks were burnt.
Many trade union leaders alleged that due to lack of proper safety procedures such mishaps were taking place repeatedly. On the other hand, burning of coal also leads to increase in concentrations of particulate and gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere causing severe air pollution around SOCM mine.
Previously, also incidents of spontaneous combustion of coal have been reported at SOCM mine.
When contacted, Project Officer of SOCM PP Gupta said the fire in the coal stock had been extinguished.
Jharsugada Regional Officer, SPCB, Niranjan Mallick informed that one of his teams visited the spot and asked the SOCM officials to reduce the height of coal stock so that similar incidents could be avoided in future.