Bhubaneswar/Jharsuguda: A few hours after the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) served a notice to Vedanta over a breach in ash pond, the company authorities agreed to pay compensation and relocate the villagers as per the Government guidelines.
The decision was taken at a tripartite meeting at the District Collectorate in presence of local MLAs and MPs, company CEO and affected villagers.
After nearly three hours of discussion, the company finally agreed to give compensation and completely relocate the villagers.
Jharsuguda Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik said the local Tehsildar would visit the spot from tomorrow to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry and submit a report on the same. “Appropriate steps will be taken for dewatering ash pond no.3 and stop flow of polluted water into the Bheden River. Those villagers willing to vacate the village can do so,” informed Patnaik.
Also Read: Breach in ash pond: Pollution board issues show cause notice to Vedanta
“Government is recommending this case for the entire village for the rehabilitation. As an organisation we will abide by whatever direction the government issues. I appeal all the villagers to cooperate with us,” said Vedanta CEO Abhijit Pati.
It may be mentioned here that liquid ash inundated around 100 acres of paddy fields in Katikela village of Jharsuguda district after a wall of the ash pond no.2 of the Vedanta aluminium plant collapsed on August 28 night.