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Plan to check pollution in Angul-Talcher area

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has opined that increasing amount of land is being converted into ash ponds and solid waste disposal facilities and in the process the agricultural land is being converted into unproductive barren land in Angul-Talcher area. The OSPCB, while unveiling pollution control plans for the Angul-Talcher region, has noted that conversion of agricultural land into a barren one as a major issue.

The trend of land degradation was pointed out by Centre of Mining Environment under Indian School of Mines University, Dhanbad, in its regional environment management plan for Angul-Talcher-Meramundali area last year.

Now the pollution watchdog unveiled the action plan to check pollution and land degradation within the next four to five years.

As per the study, the land use has changed from originally total forest and agriculture to a mixed use due to mining and industrial activities.

The land use pattern in 2007 was 42.3 per cent agricultural land, 35.2 per cent forestland and 14.13 per cent barren or wasteland.

Mining area

There was a marked increase in mining area, barren land and settlements in 2007 as compared to that of in 1973 from 0.014 to 0.60 per cent, 0.49 to 14.13 per cent and 2.12 per cent to 3.80 per cent respectively. Area under plantation had almost doubled since 1973 (from 0.56 per cent to 1.09 per cent). There was considerable decrease in forestland (from 46.03 per cent to 35.2 per cent) and agricultural land from (47.9 per cent to 42.3 per cent).

Going by the proposals of 14 thermal power plants to be set up in the region, the expected requirement of coal to feed these proposed power plants will be about 100 million tonne per annum. The power plants will produce a whopping quantity of fly ash to the tune of 40 million tonne per year, disposal of which will be a big challenge.

The State Pollution Control Board in its action plan has suggested back filling of the mine voids and restoration of the mined out area. It announced that an action plan will be prepared for the purpose. As per the assessment, mining void of 56 million cubic metre per year will be created in Talcher coalfield area.

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