Jajpur: Indiscriminate use of fly ash discharged by industrial plants in Kalinganagar, to fill up the large pits and potholes in Manjuri mouza under Korei block in Jajpur district has lead to drastic air and water pollution in the area, sources said Tuesday. The worst sufferers are the residents of Korabandi and Ragadi localities and students of a government polytechnic college located at the same place. The fly ash has completely polluted the drinking water supply system in the college. Students are now forced to bring water from their homes. Farmers also fear that the fertility of their lands will be affected once the rains come. Then the fly ash will flow with the water and inundate their fields making it unfit for harvesting crops. They have asked the state pollution control board (SPCB) to intervene.
Locals alleged that fly ash is being regularly transported to the Ragadi locality. It is being used by a consultancy agency to fill up potholes and large holes. They said that the use of fly ash is also causing health problems. Many people are suffering from respiratory and skin diseases as the fly ash has drastically polluted the surroundings. Fly ash discharged by industrial plants is a major contributor to air and water pollution in various areas of Jajpur district. Taking cognizance of the matter, the Union Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Ministry issued a notification outlining the use of fly ash, February 25, 2019. Various decisions were taken in this regard by the Central Conservation Department which comes under the Environment Protection Act 1986. Directions were issued for establishing brick kiln units using fly ash within a 300-metre radius of thermal power plants. It was decided that the power plants would supply fly ash to the brick kilns. A decision was also taken to use fly ash for road construction and cement manufacturing.
However, the decisions have been on paper only without any proper implementation, local residents alleged. Industries producing the fly ash are dumping it anywhere they want with impunity as the SPCB is yet to issue them an official letter on the matter, added the locals. The locals also informed us that fly ash is being used in human habitats without sprinkling it with water. As a result, it spreads quickly under the influence of strong winds. They said that fly ash is being indiscriminately dumped on government land, farmlands, forests, and water bodies without anyone realising the disastrous effect it will have on human beings and animals. When contacted, SPCB regional officer, Pramod Kumar Behera said he is yet to receive any official complaint in this regard. He, however, assured that steps will be taken once a formal complaint is lodged.