Pollution menace in Belpahar as MCL flouts norms

Jharsuguda: Even as the state pollution control board has directed Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to ensure compliance of pollution norms through a separate coal corridor in Belpahar area of Jharsuguda district, the same is yet to be implemented leading to widespread pollution in the industrial town.

Meanwhile, local residents who have been struggling with the pollution due to hundreds of coal laden trucks passing through Belpahar and Gumadera have protested the passage of the trucks inside the town area.

“We want that coal should be transported away from the municipality area so that we do not have to face pollution,” Belpahar Nagarik Manch Convenor Shyam Satapathy said.

On the other hand the MCL authorities said they are committed to establish a new coal corridor very soon. “We had received the Detailed Project Report (DPR) on September 30 and since it had some discrepancies we had asked the administration to moderate it. Since it is a high investment project, once the appropriate DPR comes in, we will obtain approval from the MCL board and then start our work, CGM of MCL, Lakhanpur, RP Gupta, said.