Two MlAs of Jharsuguda district Radharani Panda and Naba Kishore Das have questioned the legitimacy of the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) Chairman to discuss pollution-related complaints with Government executives and heads of industrial houses.
The MlAs on Monday drew attention of the Chief Secretary in this regard. According to them, the WODC Chairman’s Private Secretary had asked the Managing Director of the Action Ispat and Power Pvt ltd, Jharsuguda district Collector, District labour Officer and the Regional Director of the State Pollution Control Board to attend a meeting at the Rajiv Bhavan here to discuss environment pollution issues with the WODC Chairman on October 20 (Monday).
In their letters, both the lawmakers have mentioned that there is no mention in Section 11 and 12 of the Western Odisha Development Council Act-2000 that the Chairman holds meetings on environment and pollution related issues and take action.
“The intention of the Western Odisha Development Council Act is not to create a State within a State, but to go for development of western Odisha. Therefore, we request you to examine the matter with dispassionately and necessary orders be passed to avoid its occurrence in future,” both Panda and Das said in their respective letters.
Panda further said that if the Chairman receives complaints on the pollution related issues, he should inform the same to the Forests and Environment Department for action.