The State Pollution Control Board (PCB) in a recent action has served notices to the five fly ash generating industries here. These units are rampantly violating norms in fly ash management.
As per information, the local industries have been asked for cent per cent utilization of the fly ash they generate in their own units. But they never do so. As a result, there have been severe impacts on the ecology of the region stoking public resentment.
The role of PCB was also under virulent criticism and people openly questioned on its credibility. Hence, coming under pressure, the local regional office of the PCB here served notices to Aditya Alumina-Rengali, Hindalco-Hirakud, Bhushan Steel and Power -Thelkuli, Aryan Steel-Rengali and Jai Jagannath Steels-Bamra. All these industrial units had been directed to utilize the entire fly ash by November 2014. But practically it was seen that no action was taken at their respective ends even after lapse of a year.
The notice further states legal action against the units would be taken if they don’t give any satisfactory reply within a stipulated time limit.
The fly ash generated by these units having their own captive power plant have multifarious use including making of bricks for house making, construction of roads, filling of gaps in coalmining areas among others. But the industries hardly bother for the direction of the PCB.
“Kiln bricks have been totally banned in Sambalpur district to encourage use of fly ash bricks. But production of the kiln bricks is going on unabated in connivance with Revenue and PCB officials. And, people don’t prefer fly ash bricks when kiln bricks are available in plenty,” alleged the industrial houses.
Further road works contractors and construction farms use soil available easily and cheat Government towards paying royalty. Hence, they also don’t turn up to lift fly ash from the plants. As a result, a major portion of the fly ash remains unutilised.
“It is now the district administration that needs to be more active than serving notices to us,” a plant authority said.