Post News Network
Jajpur, July 22: Even as a closure notice was issued by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on the Jakhapura railway siding for violating green norms, authorities Wednesday began the process to seal it.
According to sources, Jakhapura station master was handed over the closer notice. After completion of all the formalities of the OSPCB Thursday, unloading from trains will be stopped. After closure of the siding, required raw materials will be transported to Visa Steels and Maithan plants from Manapur railway siding.
It may be mentioned here that daily over 4,000 tonnes of coal, dolomite, manganese and iron ores were transported from Jakhapura siding to Visa Steels. The news of closure of the siding came as a sigh of relief for the locals and the passengers as the surrounding atmosphere will be free from harmful dusts.
The siding has been affecting lives and livelihoods of the locals. Earlier, on several occasions, the residents had urged the government to close the siding. Some social activists had lodged complaints with the Green Tribunal in this regard. The OSPCB issued a letter to the siding authorities July 7 seeking explanation on violating pollution control norms. However, the railway department failed to give a satisfactory reply.
The social activists also mentioned that vehicles used to transport coal, iron and other ores on rural roads beyond capacity. The railway authorities never sprinkled water at the site and on the roads to curb pollution. Dust was polluting water bodies. The OSPCB had issued closure notices on the siding earlier also. But it could not be implemented. The OSPCB’s closure notice on the siding March 4 was withdrawn under the pressure of its secretary, the residents alleged.
Irate residents later apprised the chief secretary of the issue and requested him to relocate the siding at the earliest.
Later, social activist Aswini Kumar Dhal lodged a complaint with the Green Tribunal in this regard. When contacted, regional officer of the OSPCB, Anup Kumar Mallick, said show-cause notices have been issued on the siding for violating green norms. As the siding authorities failed to give satisfactory reply, closer notice was issued on it.