RPDAC scraps Bhushan Steel's ash pond project

Bhushan Steel Limited's plan to set up an ash pond at Nimidah in the state's Dhenkanal district has got a setback with the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) scrapping the project on grounds of stiff opposition from the local villagers.

The committee has advised the company to explore the possibility of getting an empty coal mine at Talcher to dump the slurry of its power plant instead of going for the ash pond.

This decision was taken at the fourth meeting of RPDAC held recently at Dhenkanal. Bhushan Steel has drawn flak from RPDAC for causing serious pollution in the peripheral areas and the company has been asked to plant 50000 trees within a month.

The committee also vented its displeasure over the low representation of local youth in Bhushan Steel's work force. Out of 1600 workers hired by the company, only 163 are local youths.

The company has been directed to offer employment to the local youth instead of procuring manpower from elsewhere.

Apart from offering jobs to local youths, other issues like providing drinking water to villages grappling with water scarcity and taking up other welfare measures by the company were also discussed at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the RPDAC cleared the names of 53 displaced persons for rehabilitation and resettlement benefits of Rungta Mines. The committee has asked the company to plant 10000 trees to check pollution.