Work on Bhushan Steel's ash pond stopped

The district administration in Dhenkanal has ordered an end to the construction work of ash pond by Bhushan Steel Limited at Nimidha village following large scale opposition by the locals belonging to 29 neighbouring villages.

A five-member official committee has been constituted by the district administration to look into the complaints of the agitating locals staying within two-km radius of the construction site of the company's ash pond. According to a district official, the committee has been asked to submit its report soon.

The members of the committee include the local sub collector, regional officer of the state pollution control board, Dhenkanal divisional forest officer, the local manager of Industrial Development Corporation and assistant director of factories and boilers of Angul. The locals of Nimidha, Gopalpur, Jagannathpur, Biswanathpur, Raibania, Gaudakateni, Dhalpur, Haldiabahal and other villages raised objections against the ash pond construction on the grounds of pollution hazards to the flora and fauna.They met the Dhenkanal district collector who latter ordered that the construction work on the ash pond has to be stopped till the committee submits its report.

According to a source, Bhushan Steel did not acquire land for its ash pond under the Land Acquisition Act but purchased it directly from the tenants without taking the state authorities into confidence. There has been foul play and alleged irregularities by the company in the direct purchase of land which has caused resentment among the locals, the source added.