Pollution watchdog slaps notices on two chromite mines of IMFA

Asked to explain within 15 days why the 'consent to operate' granted to the mines be not withdrawn

Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has served notices on two chromite mines of Indian Metals and Ferroalloys (IMFA), the leading ferroalloys producer in the country.

Incidentally, IMFA is promoted by the family of Baijayant Panda, a senior BJD leader and MP, who has raked up a political storm by exposing certain weakness in the functioning of the ruling party in Odisha through his Twitter handle and newspaper articles.

OSPCB notices have been served on IMFA's Kaliapani mines in the Sukinda valley on the ground of violation of air and water pollution norms.

IMFA is India's largest fully integrated producer of ferroalloys with 187 MVA installed furnace capacity backed up by 258 MW captive power generation. The two mines measuring 116.76 hectares and 73.77 hectares were producing over 0.8 million tonne of chrome ore per annum which are used to produce ferrochrome by the company.

OSPCB has asked the company to explain within 15 days why the 'consent to operate' (CTO) granted to the mines be not withdrawn because of violation of pollution norms. The tenure of the pollution board's consent in normal course is set to expire in March, 2021.

"OSPCB as a matter of routine inspection had inspected the chromite mines of IMFA at Sukinda on 23rd Martha 2017. While the inspecting team has expressed satisfaction over 16 out of 24 conditions attached to the grant of CTO, it has raised some objection with regard to haulage road condition, sprinkler frequency and wheel washing of trucks", said a company official. 

"While these are very innocuous conditions given that mining roads develop pots holes and ruts, the company has already started taking action for repair. As a company, we accord highest priority to compliance with environment norms", he added.