Post News Network
Jajpur/Kalinganagar, August 1: A state pollution control board (SPCB) team Friday visited Sarangpur village adjoining Nilachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NINL) here in Jajpur district and collected water samples from various water bodies in the village. The water has allegedly been toxic due to pollution caused by the steel plant.
The team comprising environmentalist Bhima Charan Marandi and senior science officer Soumendra Sahu collected the water samples from wells, ponds and tube-wells in the village and interacted with villagers. The team after collecting the water samples dispatched them to its own laboratory at Patia in Bhubaneswar
Acting on a State Human Rights Commission directive to the district administration, the team visited the village. At a meeting of the rehabilitation and periphery advisory committee April 8, the district administration had asked the SPCB to make an assessment of the pollution level in Sarangpur village.
Demanding to free these from pollution, the villagers earlier had approached the rights body after their pleas before the district administration, local MLA and even Chief Minister failed to yield results.
The team’s visit assumes significance as the villagers have been persistently demanding before the district administration to relocate them elsewhere in exchange of their homestead, farmlands and even the whole village.
The villagers have been alleging that toxic smoke, dust, coal fines and chemical mixed waste water from the steel plant have made their lives hell. They have made their farmlands barren and contaminated the village water bodies.
It has become difficult for them to live in such unhealthy surrounding as the pollution has caused various diseases. It has also affected their livestock. Moreover, the water in the area has become unfit for consumption as a thick layer of pollutants envelops the water bodies.
When contacted, SPCB regional officer Anup Kumar Mallick said water samples have been sent for examination and action will be taken against the plant authorities after they receive the findings. The villagers, however, have little hope from such visits.