Three opencast mines in the MCl lakhanpur Area have completely failed to observe pollution standards. Coming on a surprise visit on Thursday forenoon, Dr Dl Paul of the State Pollution Control Board and Debdutta Mohanty and Chandrasekhar Chouhan of the Jharsuguda District Pollution Board went around the pumps set up for water circulation, mine pit, MDTP and the nearby Ubuda village including other areas.
During the visit, they came to know that the MCl lakhanpur Area is not observing pollution norms. Belpahar Opencast Mines Pollution Nodal Officer PC Sethy also joined the team during their visit.
locals further alleged that the MCl authorities are not taking keen interest to prevent water, air and environmental pollution. Sources also said that around 28.05 million tonnes of coal is produced annually in the MCl’s lakhanpur Area. Besides, water released out of production of such huge quantity of coal is mixed with spurious oil, gas and coal dust.
Generally, after due treatment, this water should be sprinkled at loading and unloading points of coal of adjoining areas. But practically without any treatment, sometimes the water is straightway released into the Ib river through the lilari Canal and sometimes in the cultivated land, ponds and canals of the nearby villages creating pollution everywhere. On getting such information, the pollution control team came for a spot verification and took samples of some buses for further test in their laboratories.
The officers met CGM of MCl lakhanpur Area MG Brahmapurkar in his office for discussion. A doctors’ team also stated that under the influence of coal dust, no area is seen beyond 20-feet distance and plants’ leaves change colour from green to black.