People rally against polluting units in Jajpur

KENDRAPADA: Around 3,000 people of six villages staged a protest at Kaliapani in Jajpur district on Monday against the ill-effects of industrial pollution and mining. The protesters alleged that people are suffering from different diseases, including skin cancer, in Sukinda block.
"The 12 steel plants of Kalinganagar and 14 chromites mines of Sukinda Valley discharge industrial and mining waste into the Brahmani river system in complete disregard to the laws of the land," said Sukinda MLA Pritiranjan Ghadai, who is also president of Sukinda Chromites Sramika Sangha (SCSS) under whose banner the villagers united.He alleged that many steel plants in Kalinganagar have no effluent treatment system.
He also accused the steel plant authorities of not giving preference to locals in appointments violating the decision of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee. This happens even when the locals have the requisite degrees and diplomas in different streams, Ghadai said, adding, some mines have retrenched workers.
He said many industries are exploiting underground water resources without permission from authorities resulting in a sharp drop in the water level.
Joint secretary of SCSS Narayan Chandra Dhir demanded a thorough probe against the steel plants and mines for polluting water resources and damaging crops. He said the units discharge untreated water containing hazardous chemicals into the river.
Similar was the view of trade union leader Vivekananda Bose. "A thorough inquiry should be initiated by the district administration against the polluting units. They should be asked to discharge water after treating it or else face action under the anti-pollution law," he said.