Aluminum plant accused of discharging toxic waste
Vedanta Alumina Limited which started commercial production at its Lanjigarh plant in Kalahandi district three months ago has been accused of discharging toxic effluents and polluting the air.
By PTI |
BHUBANESWAR: Vedanta Alumina Limited which started commercial production at its Lanjigarh plant in Kalahandi district three months ago has been accused of discharging toxic effluents and polluting the air.
The complaints of villagers in the area have been referred to the Orissa Pollution Control Board and a team of experts has collected water samples for testing.
Residents of Raghunathpur and Chhatrapur villages close to the VAL plant had lodged five complaints against the company at Lanjigarh police station, official sources said.
They complaints alleged the aluminum plant was polluting the region by discharging toxic wastes into the agricultural fields and noxious fumes into the air.
"Many of us have developed skin diseases due to release of toxic water to water bodies," Budeswar Harijan and Kandha Nayak alleged in their complaints.
While Vedanta officials were not immediately available for comment, state PCB official L N Pattnaik told reporters the complaints lodged by the villagers was referred to the board by district administration.
"We have sent a team of experts who have collected water samples from the area. After the samples are examined, a report will be prepared," he said.
Sources said the local people had earlier moved court including the Supreme Court but it was for the first time they lodged complaints against the firm at a police station.
"Since the police is a witness to the environmental damage caused by the plant, we approached it," said Uttam Bohidar, a signatory to a petition filed with Lanjigarh police.
The complaints of villagers in the area have been referred to the Orissa Pollution Control Board and a team of experts has collected water samples for testing.
Residents of Raghunathpur and Chhatrapur villages close to the VAL plant had lodged five complaints against the company at Lanjigarh police station, official sources said.
They complaints alleged the aluminum plant was polluting the region by discharging toxic wastes into the agricultural fields and noxious fumes into the air.
"Many of us have developed skin diseases due to release of toxic water to water bodies," Budeswar Harijan and Kandha Nayak alleged in their complaints.
While Vedanta officials were not immediately available for comment, state PCB official L N Pattnaik told reporters the complaints lodged by the villagers was referred to the board by district administration.
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"We have sent a team of experts who have collected water samples from the area. After the samples are examined, a report will be prepared," he said.
Sources said the local people had earlier moved court including the Supreme Court but it was for the first time they lodged complaints against the firm at a police station.
"Since the police is a witness to the environmental damage caused by the plant, we approached it," said Uttam Bohidar, a signatory to a petition filed with Lanjigarh police.
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