Post News Network
Jajpur, June 16: In an unusual move, as many as 10,000 residents of four villages in Kalinganagar of Jajpur district have offered their homestead lands to Mesco-owned Maithan Ispat Ltd in exchange of their relocation due to pollution caused by the company.
The demand of villagers of Barpal, Dasamania, Tangarsahi and Kichirigaon came after it became unbearable for them to live in their homes with huge volume of smoke and dust emanating from the plant choking their lives. This has not only affected their live and livelihood but has made it difficult for them to survive in such a hostile condition.
Things have come to such a pass that a thick fog of black smoke envelopes the atmosphere from morning till night. The pollution has even contaminated all the water bodies as the water often found covered under a layer of ash. As a result many of the villagers are suffering from stomach ailments and skin diseases while their livestock are equally getting affected from various diseases.
Even the trees, farmlands and pasture lands were found covered under ash dust. It is alleged this has happened due to technical glitches in the kiln, filter bag becoming dysfunctional and non-operation of the ESP machine in the plant. The villagers instead of reaping the benefits of industrialization now find themselves at crossroads with pollution from the plant showing no signs of decline. Ironically, the company has not rehabilitated even a single family in all these four villages. They are no more prepared to live under a polluted atmosphere and have instead chosen to part away with their lands.
Sources said Maithan Ispat established with an outlay of Rs 1,179 crore in Kalinganagar was acquired a month back by the Mesco group. During acquisition the residents were expecting that pollution will come down once Mesco group takes over the plant. They were disappointed after pollution from the plant continued unabated.
The company instead of treating the solid waste generated from the plant was found dumping it inside the plant which has grown over the period and has acquired the shape of a hill. Two of the kilns producing carbon and stainless steel have recently become operational. The company does not have any plan for rehabilitating the villagers living on its surroundings.
The company except establishing the plant has not done anything for creating green cover on the basis of pollution norms. The company was even learnt not to have sought the permission of locals during establishment of the plant. The company does not have any system in place for pollution control for management of the waste.
When contacted Maithan’s human resources (HR) chief Parthasarathi Ojha rejected the allegations and said that pollution has come down after Mesco acquired the plant. Regional officer Anup Kumar Mallick of state pollution control board said there is no problem over pollution as the ESP machine is regularly working.