43 industries get pollution notice

The Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) issued show cause notice to 43 mines in the state for violation of environmental norms during 2008-09.

These environmental violations were recorded under various norms of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said.

The errant industries included both the public sector and private sector entities. They were Orissa Mineral Development Corporation (OMDC), Ferro Alloys Corporation (Facor), Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC), Essel Mining Industries, Shiv Cement, Tata Refractories, Pattanayak Minerals, United Minerals to name a few.

OMDC was issued the show cause notice for Belkundi iron amd manganese mines located in Keonjhar in April last year. MCL was served notice for Basundhara open cast project (OCP) in Sundergarh and Balaram OCP located at Angul. Similarly, OMC was served notice for violation of the environmental norms at Daitari iron ore mines in Keonjhar district.

Tata Steel was issued the notice for its Chromite mines at Sukinda in Jajpur district in June last year. The notice on Facor was issued on 15 July 2008 for violation of the water and air pollution act.

Essel Mining and Industries was issued notice in November last year for Jilling Longlota iron and manganese mines located at Jajang in Keonjhar district. Other lessees who were issued show cause for violation of water and air act included Pattanayak minerals, AMTC Private Ltd, K C Pradhan, O M & M private Ltd, United Minerals and Basudev Agarwal.

On the other hand, the pollution control board granted consent to 96 mines lessees from 2001 till date. The consent was given either for raising the existing capacity of the mines or start new mining operation.

ICCL chromite mines, Sukinda chromite mines at Sukinda, Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), Orissa Cement Ltd., Rungta Mines, Balasore Alloys, Bolani ore mines, Ostapal chromite mines of Facor, Kalinga Mining Corporation, Idcol Kalinga Iron Works Ltd, Bharja minerals, Patabeda iron and manganese mines, Guali iron ore mines, Kaniha OCP of MCL, Nayagarh iron ore mines, OMC and Unchabali iron and manganese mines were granted consent to establish at different times by the pollution control board.