Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Environmental Pollution In Jharsuguda District In Bargarh ... on 5 August, 2021
Seventeenth Loksabha an> Title : Regarding environmental pollution in Jharsuguda district in Bargarh Parliamentary Constituency, Odisha -laid.
SHRI SURESH PUJARI (BARGARH): I would like to bring to your kind notice that Jharsuguda District in Bargarh Lok Sabha Constituency is facing the consequences of enormous environmental pollution mainly due to emission of green house gases and faulty method of fly-ash disposal. As per regulation, the fly-ash should be disposed in low lands as landfills for dry ash and in safe ponds for the wet ash. It has been strictly forbidden either to use agricultural land or lands adjacent to them or Gochar land for ash disposal. Further, it has also been forbidden to transport the ashes in open vehicles to prevent aerial circulation as dust. These norms are being constantly violated by a company in Jharsuguda causing serious health problems. Further, the heaps of ashes deposited as ash hills on open plain land get washed in to the water resources contaminating the water and the animals in water such as fishes through which they enter the food-chain. The ash is contaminating the crop fields and severely hampering the crop production and causing health hazards. Air pollution absorbed through inhalation is causing silicosis, bronchial asthma, high blood pressure, swelling in the brain, haemoglobin damage, osteoporosis, damage to the male reproductive system and cancer. This is due to high exposure of the population to the toxic constituents in the fly-ash such as Lead Cadmium, Mercury, Chromium, Arsenic, Molybdenum, Thallium and Silica etc. I would therefore request the Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through you Sir to order an inquiry through a high level technical team, examine the degree of pollution being caused and put a brake on the careless disposal of fly ash and other dangerous affluents causing air and water pollution and issue strict guidelines to the industries in Jharsuguda to stick to the regulation.