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PCB gives clean chit to Sukinda Valley

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) dismissed report of USA-based Blacksmith Institute, which identified Sukinda Valley in the State as one of the 10 most polluted spots in the world.

The pollution control board also gave a clean chit to several companies, who were accused of releasing dangerous substance, hexa-valent chromium through their chromite mining in Sukinda areas in Jajpur district.

“Presently, though there are still many areas, which require further improvement, the overall management is reasonably satisfactory and the situation is not as bleak as is generally made out,” OSPCB said in its latest report. The board was asked to investigate into pollution allegations.

It, however, pointed out that “because of operation of several mines, over a somewhat limited area, certain environmental problems are inevitable in the Sukinda valley, like any other mining area.”

At present there are 13 chromite mines operating in Sukinda valley which accounted above 90 per cent country chromite reserve spread over an area covering approximately 200 sq km in the Jajpur district. As many as 12 of these 13 practise opencast mining, while one is underground. Opencast chromite mining generates huge volumes of seepage water. Even though chromium in chromite is in the trivalent state, some hexa-valent Cr(VI) is always formed due to certain complex reactions. If Cr (VI) containing mine drainage water is released untreated, can severely contaminate the nearby water bodies. Though OSPCB found that out of the 12 opencast mines operating in Sukinda, Cr(VI) containing mine drainage water was a problem in 9 mines, it said there was occasional deviation from the prescribed standard of 0.10 mg/liter.

“Such occasional violations are not uncommon in industrial and mining activities and it is not unique in case of the chromite mines in Sukinda,” OSPCB said. The board recognised large over burdens besides mines as one of the major problem areas.

“Cr(VI) concentration in ground water sources fluctuates. Hence feasibility of a total prohibition of extraction of ground waterand use of inland surface water will be tested ,” OSPCB suggested.

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