After facing resistance in dumping fly ash in Rayati land, grazing ground, forest land and vacant Government land, the Bhusan Power and Steels limited (BPSl) at Thelkuli in Sambalpur district seems to have found a new way to dispose of toxic fly ash.
To avoid ire of the locals in the periphery and action by authorities, it is shipping fly ash in trucks, which ferry coal for its power plant from coalfields of Brajrajnagar and dumping it in neighbouring Jharsuguda district.
Villagers residing in areas between Gandhi Chowk and Kanaktora including Adivasi Colony, Bhikampali, Mahasingh, Kudaloi, Panchgaon, Bhawnarkhol, lakhanpur and Belpahad said that no vacant space is being spared and fly ash is being dumped indiscriminately. The residents of the areas said that everywhere fly ash is dumped by trucks of Odisha Transport Company and Kalyani Transport. They alleged that the dumping in the open has been polluting water bodies in villages, besides making it difficult to commute on the road. The fly ash in air is causing respiratory problems.
Sources said that in order to ensure that they are entrusted with transportation of coal which involves good profit, the transport agencies are helping the BPSl in the clandestine disposal of fly ash. They are carrying coal to the plant and while returning are ferrying fly ash and dumping it, especially during late hours so as to escape unnoticed. It is said that as many as 30 trucks and other heavy vehicles which ferry coal are getting back fly ash and dumping it in Brajrajnagar constituency area over last five months.
Recently, a road blockade was staged by tribal inhabitants of Adivasi Colony for 14 long hours over the issue and was removed after Brajrajnagar SDPO intervened and assured action against the accused. While admitting to dumping of fly ash, Managing Director of Odisha Tranposrt Company Ramesh Ganeriwal said that the fly ash is being dumped at places as demarcated by the company. He denied that they are forcibly dumping it anywhere.
Brajrajnagar MlA Radharani Panda said that she has been receiving complaints over the issue and will take up the matter with the district administration.
She said that she will ask the district administration to stop such illegal dumping of fly ash immediately. Odisha Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) Regional Officer Hemendra Nath
Nayak said officers have been sent for spot verification and action will be taken on receipt of reports. However, the BPSl authorities said that disposal of fly ash has been outsourced to private agencies with direction to dispose it in designated area as per the guidelines.