Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Saryu Roy on Tuesday come down heavily on Bokaro Steel Plant asking the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board ((JSPCB) chief to take strict action against it for “criminally” polluting the Damodar River.
Roy, who is spearheading Damodar Bachao Andolan, sent a letter to JSPCB Chairman DD Sharma, requesting him once again to take strict actions against all those who have been polluting water resources of the State.
Roy, in his letter, has said that the level of damage this plant has been making to river Damodar around Bokaro has amounted to criminal pollution. He said that plant’s waste reddish excretion combined with acidic odour has destroyed Damodar near Chandrapura-Bokaro bridge and a couple of other locations.
Roy stated that a detailed description, along with visual support, has been sent to JSPCB and a strict action must be taken against Bokaro Steel plant. He also said that the situation created by Patratu Thermal Power plant is even worse, which is polluting Damodar near Bhurkunda through Nalkari river.
However, an attempt to reach out to R Kushwaha, GM (EMD & ECD), who is at present responsible for looking after environmental issues of the plant, to know if a single notice has been sent to the plant which is in operation for around five decades, regarding this by JSPCB, failed, as he kept ignoring calls. On the other hand, JSPCB Chairman neither confirmed nor ruled out the possibilities of having sent notices to the plant.
Roy said that he had approached the Board with similar requests in 2004 also, and it was utter negligence of the Board for the last 12 years and of (Bokaro) district administration equally, as DC himself happens to be the Chairmen of environment committee of the district.
The Minister also thanked JSPCB for directing CCl to stop coal procurement from its Kathara and Dakra mines. He had informed the Board after his visit of Damodar in Sindri, Katras, Sudamdih and a couple of other locations on June 1 about coal siding by CCl and coal washery of Monnet Ispat which has resulted in almost extinction of Sonadubi, a subsidiary of Damodar.
“I have been informed that JSPCB has warned Monnet Ispat to shut its washery down, but has not ordered to close it. The company has been given time up to June 15 to clear encroachment of the river. I strongly believe that this coal washery must be closed immediately. I am surprised how the company was granted very permission at first place of coal washery at such a location. The entire process of granting permission is illegal,” Roy said.