Mahakalapara: Mahakalapara, a coastal block in Kendrapara district, is a burning example of how mindless industrialisation has badly affected the environment and the quality of life even as both the state and the Centre continue to support the trend, a report said.
Here is a case in point. Smoke and dust produced by industrial units have polluted several villages of Batighar panchayat. Numerous green patches have disappeared from this region, while residents are suffering from diseases. Based on a complaint lodged by the locals, the Collector, meanwhile, has ordered a probe.
Batighar, an island of sorts, is surrounded by canals and rivers including the Mahanadi from all sides. Paradip industrial area is located on the other side of Mahanadi. There are a number of industries including a couple of fertilizer units in Paradip which is part of Jagatsinghpur district.
However, the smoke, dust and carbon fines produced by these units and carried by the flow of wind have settled down all over the place in Batighar. The black layers on trees and grass affects the health of farm animals, while humans suffer from various skin disorders, complained the locals.
Besides, people also suffer from stomach ailments, loss of appetite, pain in eyes and nose, said locals Bhimsen Mandal, Satyanarayan Pradhan and Bhaskar Majhi. Children, women and elderly persons are the worst affected by the situation, they added.
A few other villagers alleged the waste released into the river by industrial units in Paradip has affected fish population. The industries also don’t properly utilise the funds sanctioned under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the development of affected regions, it was alleged.
Environmentalist Samarendra Mahali said the industries are situated in Jagatsinghpur district but people of neighbouring Kendrapara bear the brunt of mindless industrialisation.
It is not only Batighar, at least 20 panchayats of Kendrapara have been affected by the units, he added.
The companies should set up super specialty hospitals in affected regions and offer some other benefits to the locals, Mahali further said.
On the other hand, locals alleged that the authorities are ignoring their interests and siphoning off CSR funds.
Recently, some people of Badatubi and a few other villages met Collector Reghu G over the issues. The Collector has asked tehsildar Nilamadhab Bhoi to investigate the matter and submit a report.
The tehsildar said he has visited the affected regions and will submit the report soon.