The National Green Tribunal, Kolkata Branch on Tuesday issued directions for early closure of the Kalinga Calciner petroleum coke plant at Paradip for failing to fulfill pollution norms.
The NGT asked the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to seal the plant and the Jagatsinghpur district Collector to disconnect power to the factory while hearing petitions filed by Udayabata villagers and going by reports of the SPCB, the State Environment Impact Assessment Impact Authority and the district Collector.
Sankar Prasad Pani, representing petitioners, had alleged that the factory polluted the entire environment with residential areas and water bodies being covered with layers of sticky oily carbon dusts released by the plant.
The locals were having difficulties in breathing and suffering from eye irritation and skin infection. Further, they were unable to sleep due to sound pollution caused by the unit. Ashes released from the plant’s chimney also covered up agricultural land.
Earlier, the NGT had issued notices to short out the problems to the company. However, the company failed to comply with the pollution norms of Consent to Operate and Environment Clearance. The unit still doesn’t have an electrostatic precipitator, which controls air pollution.
The unit too failed in many other counts.
Taking note of the above, the NGT directed the SPCB to seal the plant and the Collector to disconnect electricity to the factory. The Tribunal too asked the pollution board to file compliance report on or before May 2, 2017.