Bhubaneswar, Dec 5: Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has issued direction to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to constitute a high level inquiry committee and submit a report regarding illegal dumping of fly ash in different locations of Jharsuguda district by Vedanta Aluminium.
The direction of the Minister came after Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit raised the issue on 12th October 2024.
Purohit had written a letter to Bhupender Yadav citing the illegal dumping of fly ash in different locations of Jharsuguda district by Vedanta Aluminium.
Pujari requested to constitute a high-level enquiry team to look into the matter and immediately stop the illegal dumping of fly ash. He also sought necessary actions against the company and the transporters.
“It is a fact that M/s Vedanta Aluminum Ltd, Jharsuguda is dumping the Fly Ash generated by its Power Plant in the different area of Jharsuguda District illegally. The matter has already been published in different newspapers and electronic media including social media. Their Thermal plant generates electricity by burning coal. Ash generated in the process of generating electricity should be collected and transported in a slurry form (mixed with water) to the ash pond which has been created to store ash. Ash generated by the power plant, i.e., fly ash and bottom ash, are serious pollutants, apart from containing Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Antimony (Sb), Arsenic (AS), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Mercury and they are also radioactive, depending on the source of coal. Storing this ash on plain earth would result in seepage of contaminants into the Earth, which will result in contaminating ground water and soil,” the letter read.
“As the company has engaged some transport companies to transport the Fly Ash, they are illegally dumping these dangerous Fly Ash in the open spaces adjacent to roads side from Gandhi Chowk to Kanaktora (NH-49). Recently it was widely reported in different newspaper and social media about the illegal dumping of fly ash in different forest areas under Jharsuguda district particularly at Amapali, Lakhanpur Block under 19 enclave villages. During last couple of days it was seen that large amount of Fly Ash of different companies are being dumped at River 1B & River VEDEN which are considered to be the life line of Jharsuguda District. The famous Ram Chandi Temple of Brajrajnagar which is in the river bank of IB and situated in a ancient Cave found to be surrounded by only Fly Ash floating in the junction of River 1B & River VEDEN causing great health threat to the devotees and surrounding of the temple in particular and the entire town of Brajrajnagar and Jharsuguda in general,” according to the letter.
“In view of the fact that serious contaminants are being dumped in the land not meant for ASH POND. I request you to direct the company to remove and evacuate the ash illegally dumped in the roadside lands and ponds causing great pollution. You are further requested to direct the company to create a green belt in the adjoining area and take action as per Supreme Court guidelines. I would like to mention here that in a Judgement the Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case of R.L.Srinivasan vs Union Of India laid down guidelines for the use of Fly Ash on 24 July 2019 (after the Fine imposed by NGT) which was upheld by Supreme Court. The court has clearly laid down guidelines to use and dump the Fly Ash generated by Power Plants,” it said.
