As Tata Steel gears up to augment its production capacity to 11 million tonnes at its Jamshedpur Steel Works, State food and civil supplies minister and Jamshedpur West MlA Saryu Roy today demanded that carrying capacity study of Jamshedpur plant must be carried out to ensure that it has no impact on the life of people here. In population biology, carrying capacity is defined as the environment’s maximal load, which is different from the concept of population equilibrium.
Addressing a press meet this afternoon, Roy expressed apprehension that the increase in production capacity will increase the pollution level in the city which in turn will have an adverse impact on the residents and so it becomes important to have a carrying capacity survey.
I have also written a letter to Chief Minister Raghubar Das and also has demanded a survey from the government’s end. I also met Sunil Bhaskaran, vice-president, corporate services, Tata Steel and have expressed my concern” he noted.
He further informed that during March 3 founder’s day celebrations, Tata Group chairman Cyrus P Mistry had expressed desire to increase the production to 15 million tonnes. However, I am of the opinion that the company must ensure that the better civic amenities are provided and pollution level doesn’t increases. The company carried out a carrying capacity survey during the year 1995 to 2000 when they wanted to increase the capacity to 5 million tonnes.
Saryu Rai added, ‘We want to make Jamshedpur a better city and for that cleanliness, water, roads should be improved for which we held a meeting with district administration and also Tata Steel officials as to what extent the company will provide the civic facilities as there has been many complains that mosquito attack has increased in several company command areas’.
Health and primary education condition is not up to the mark and we have asked the DC to look into the matter seriously, said Roy adding, government schools must be improved.
“We have expressed concerns several times that civic services in the city must be improved and the people do not reel under lack of basic facilities. Our demand is that the company should also provide such services like pure drinking water, maintenance of roads, cleanliness and better drainage system in non company areas too for greater and better Jamshedpur,” noted the legislature from Jamshedpur West.