Pollution Control Board Asks Odisha Fertiliser Plants to Curb Pollution

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has directed two fertiliser plants in the State to make their effluent management system foolproof to plug possible discharge of waste materials from gypsum mounds to the peripheral water bodies, according to a report in TheTelegraph.

The directives have been issued to Paradip-based Iffco fertiliser plant and Paradip Phosphates Ltd. (PPL).

The pollution watchdog’s directives came in the wake of complaint lodged by green activists expressing concern over water pollution from the gypsum mounds. “After complaints were received by us, the board is conducting probe to ascertain the veracity of allegations,” said the board’s regional officer, Mr. Mukesh Mahaling. “There is likelihood of waste particles draining out from gypsum mounds to water inlets and creeks nearby the plants due to the monsoon rain. So, the plant authorities were warned to plug the discharge of effluents,” he added.

Both the fertiliser manufacturing units are generating gypsum waste deposit to the tune of 25 lakh tonnes annually. On an average, 2.5 lakh tonnes get added to the waste deposit every month.

“The hoarding of gypsum by the fertiliser manufacturing units has become a constant source of air and water pollution in localities adjacent to the industrial unit. The accumulated gypsum industrial waste has assumed mammoth proportion. It has become a major health hazard. Besides, it has become a potential of water pollution in the region,” an environment activist Mr. Ayashkant Ray was quoted as saying in the report.

“The company management has installed a fool-proof pollution control mechanism at the plant. It is maintaining ambient water and air quality standard. Our focus has always been on pollution control and industrial safety mechanism. The allegations that the fertiliser unit is perpetrating pollution are not true,” said Iffco’s Senior Executive Mr. Prasanna Kumar Beura.