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Environment group seeks action against refractories firm

BHUBANESWAR: Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), an environmental pressure group, on Wednesday alleged that the Orissa government had let off Tata Group, the company of which was reportedly found to have released poisonous chemicals outside their factory premises in Jharsuguda district.

The State government should have initiated criminal proceedings against Tata Refractories Limited, Belpahar, that had discharged extremely harmful chemicals like cyanide and phenol into the drinking water sources of the nearby villages, said WSO secretary Biswajit Mohanty, who accessed a State Pollution Control Board report using RTI Act.

“The inspecting officials of the SPCB had found that the effluents generated from the gasification plant contained highly toxic chemicals like phenol, cyanide and other coal chemicals and they posed high risk to the surroundings,” Mr. Mohanty said.

The WSO secretary said water of five to six wells in Jahajpada and Jorabaga villages became black with foam and had foul odour.

On receipt of the complaint, the company immediately dewatered the wells and provided drinking water to the villagers, he said.

Moreover, analysis of well water from seven households of Jahajpada and Gumadera revealed the presence of phenol and cyanide in significant concentrations, WSO secretary said quoting the SPCB's report.

Water not treated

“The officials observed that untreated waste water from the old lagoon was spread over to agricultural fields. All waste water is not treated in the effluent treatment plant and a part of it is diverted at many stages,” he said.

At a meeting called by district Collector of Jharsuguda in 2007, a decision was taken to conduct a study on the impact of the chemical discharge on the human health, impact health on the cattle population, effect on agricultural crops of the area, extent of contamination of groundwater and drinking water sources.

The study was supposed to be done by various government agencies in the Jorabaga, Jahajpada and Jamkani areas of Belpahar NAC which had been affected by the pollution.

However, no such detailed impact studies were conducted, thereby allowing the company to escape its liability.

“The Union Carbide company in Bhopal had caused similar tragedy decades ago and now is being forced to pay more compensation. However, no such claim has been filed against Tata Refractories Ltd which clearly shows that the government is favouring this company,” alleged WSO secretary.

Evidence

Though government agencies had gathered sufficient evidence against the company's management, they had not instituted any criminal case against the directors for releasing extremely harmful chemicals like phenol and cyanide, he charged.

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