Poultry farm of Narasingha's son under green panel scanner

Bhubaneswar: A poultry farm owned by Soumendra Mishra, son of leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra, has come under the scanner of National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, following allegations that it polluted the nearby areas.
Soumendra's counsel appeared on his behalf before the NGT on Friday. The farm is near Chhatamakhna along NH-26 in Balangir district.
In January, Balangir-based lawyer Bijaya Kumar Babu moved the green panel alleging that the poultry farm was causing air, water and soil pollution. "Noxious and pungent smell is emanating from the poultry farm. No measures are being taken to clean the litter at regular intervals at the hatcheries and boiler units. The animal waste is also found strewn all over the aarea," the petitioner said.
The petition also draws NGT's attention to harmful effects of chemicals used in the farm and emission of methane, phosphorous and ammonia gas. Before moving NGT, the petitioner had written to collector (Balangir) M Muthu Kumar and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB).
NGT has also issued summons to OSPCB, Balangir collector and director of animal husbandry and veterinary services.
"We appeared before the NGT through our pleader as directed by the green panel. It is an environmentally-controlled farm. There is zero smell and pollution as processing is done in a closed house. We have a robust system to clean up the waste. The complaint is a motivated one," Soumendra told TOI.
The farm has a capacity of 2 lakh birds. "Poultry farm having more than 1 lakh birds came under the purview of the polution board only in December 2015. The directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services earlier monitored such farms," said OSPCB regional officer (Sambalpur) Hemendra Nayak
The owner of the poultry farm has been asked to apply for the mandatory consent to operate, he added.
"I have ordered an inquiry into the alleged complaint. The veterinary officer has been asked to submit a report. Accordingly, we will submit a report to the NGT," said the Balangir collector.