Orissa raps industries for failing to comply with green cover norm

Industries operating in the critically polluted Angul-Talcher belt that have failed to achieve the mandatory green cover of at least 33 per cent within their plant premises have drawn flak from the state forest department.

Tightening the noose on such errant industries, the department has called for strict compliance with the green cover norm, emphasizing that controlling environmental degradation is non-negotiable.

In a recent review meeting, the department has found that some of the major industries operating in the Angul-Talcher belt have alarmingly low levels of green cover in their industrial premises.

While the green cover of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd is at a meagre six per cent, that of Bhushan Energy Ltd stands at 11 per cent, Bhushan Steel (7.5 per cent), NTPC's Talcher Thermal Power Station- TTPS (9 per cent) and NTPC's 3000 MW Kaniha plant (29 per cent).

Only National Aluminium Company (Nalco) has a green cover of 41 per cent, exceeding the norm.

Peeved over the non-compliance of the industries, Aurobindo Behera, principal secretary (forest & environment) has has asked these industries to take adequate pollution control measures along with adequate green cover.

He also stressed on the formulation of a progressive plantation strategy by the industries operating in the Angul-Talcher belt.

Moreover, action plan initiated for the area needs to be monitored by the departments of industries, mines and forest & environment.

“The forest and environment department has issued a stern warning to the industries that have not complied with the mandatory 33 per cent green cover norm. We have also directed the industries operating in the Angul-Talcher belt to make provision for drinking water for the peripheral villages”, said Bhagirathi Behera, director (environment).

At the meeting, NTPC-Kaniha authorities said they have devoted 29.5 per cent of the overall plant area to green cover and have raised 45 species of plants.

JSPL executive director Rajesh Jha informed their green cover is only six per cent but the company is making efforts to raise it significantly.

Officials of NTPC-TTPS informed they don't have any vacant space within their industrial premises for plantation. However, the company said it has taken up avenue plantation as well as plantation in institutional areas like schools and hospitals. In case of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), plantation on one-third area of its mines has not been done, informed Siddhant Das, member secretary, State Pollution Control Board. MCL authorities were advised to use the surface mines in place of conventional blasting. Presently, 40 per cent of extraction at the MCL mines is being done with the help of surface miners with the remaining 60 per cent through conventional blasting. MCL authorities have assured that extraction with surface miner will subsequently be increased to 80 per cent.