Pollution board slaps showcause on Ananta coal mine

The Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has served a showcause notice on the authorities of Ananta open cast coal mine.

In its notice, the pollution watchdog has called for an explanation from the mine authorities as to why action would not be taken against them for air pollution caused by the recent fire at the mine. The notice issued by the member secretary of the pollution board has asked the mine authorities to take immediate measures to put out the fire which broke out at the mine on December 31. It has questioned the mine officials as to why the consent granted to the coal mine shall not be revoked for the lapses.

The showcause notice states that the Ananta open cast coal mine, with a capacity of 12 million tonnes per annum, has got the consent to operate till the end of March 2011. The board apprehended that the fire raging at the mine is likely to cause severe air pollution, exceeding the normal pollution standard prescribed by the board. The OSPCB has invoked Section 31 (A) of the Air Pollution and Control of Pollution Act, 1981 to slap the show cause on January 1, asking the colliery authorities to reply within seven days. When contacted, the colliery officials sad they have already compiled the showcause notice.