Sukinda valley: 4th most polluted area in the world according to US-based Blacksmith institute
Chromite, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jajpur Rd- Vyasanagar- Duburi- Kalinganagar, Kalinganagar corridors, Mine related pollution, MINES and MINERALS, State Bureaucrats (IAS, OAS, etc.), Websites of Interest September 13th. 2007, 10:07pmFollowing is an excerpt from a Telegraph report.
Sukinda valley in Orissa�s Jajpur is one of the most polluted places in the world, according to a report by the US-based Blacksmith Institute.
The institute provides solutions to pollution-related problems.
From India, Sukinda has ranked fourth and Vapi, a 400km industrial belt in Gujarat, is fifth on the list of 10 most polluted places.
The valley, about 140km from here, is spread across Dhenkanal and Jajpur districts and has the largest chrome ore deposit in the country — 97 per cent of India�s reserves. Mining is done by the opencast method.
According to the report, �12 mines continue to operate without any environmental management plans and over 30 million tonnes of waste rock are spread over the surrounding areas. The mines discharge untreated water into the river. This area is also flood-prone, resulting in further contamination of the waterways.�
The problem is �beyond the means of the state to solve�.
Environmentalists said the report is damning evidence of the impact rampant mining has on Orissa.
… However, chairman of Orissa State Pollution Control Board L.N. Patnaik described the report as �silly�. �I see a lot of personal agenda behind the report. It is a design to stop mining activities. If there is mining, there would be some air pollution. But to say that Sukinda is one of worst polluted places in the world is ridiculous,� he said.
The comment by OSPC Board Chairman Mr. Patnaik is outrageous. He should talk about what steps his organization is taking, if any, to minimize pollution. Instead of saying that he talks about personal agenda. Does that mean OSPC is not taking any steps to reduce pollution?
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September 15th, 2007 at 1:02 am
The comments of OSPCB Chairman is typical of third world regulatory authorities. Usually pliable and some of the most corrupt officers in the state, buy this positions in some kind of auction, though I don’t know Mr. L.N. Patnaik, personally. But if you know the state Govt. officers from State Electrical Chief Inspector or Boiler Chief Inspector or Chief Motor Vehicles Inspector, Controller of Drugs or officers of similar category – You will find some of the most corrupt, positioned there.
I most readily agree with you that he should have talked about what his office is doing to control pollution being pointed out, rather than pep talks on “personal agenda”. Unfortunately for such persons anyone can go and make a video of the alleged polluting action.
I consider this as big a scandal as fake drug or female fetus scandal.
May 10th, 2009 at 2:03 am
I think MR.L N pattnaik never visited sukinda because as a villager of sukinda i personally realize the the worst effect of pollution created by open cast mines along with exhaust of poisonous gases by different ferro alloy plants.How the pollution board gives such types of permission through which industries has been set up near residential areas ?Before SIX month a plant named as JABAMAYEE FERROALLOYS is been set up near sukinda just 20 mts away from the residents and it exhaust unsterilized gases through out the day which badly affects the health of the people of sukinda.Now the atmosphere gets cloudy day by day by the smoke exhausted from the same company.And the OSPB has already given another permission for the establishment of another company close to the previous company . This is the time to consider on the issue and to take action immediately.