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The regional office of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) today sealed the 300 Mw coal-fired power plant of Bhushan Energy Ltd (BEL), promoted by Bhushan Steel Ltd (BSL), for violating norms related to water and air pollution control.
The Board had issued a closure notice on Monday after it observed non-compliance of many conditions by the company.
According to a senior OSPCB official, the company had been served show-cause notices a number of times over the past two years.
"We have been sending show cause notices to BEL for past one and half a years, but they have not taken any measures. Today we sealed the coal feeding area of the plant so that it would ensure complete closure of power generation," said Sitikanta Sahu, regional pollution control officer. The closure action took place in the presence of local administration officials and police force.
The district administration had launched an investigation after local residents complained the company was dumping fly ash outside the plant premises and discharging hazardous effluent into a nearby drain. After the allegations were found true, the OSPCB decided to shut the plant.
"BEL has violated all the rules pertaining to air and water pollution control measures. We took the action as desired by member secretary, OSPCB," said Anil Kumar Patnaik, sub-collector, Dhenkanal district.
