Hindalco ash pond breaches again, 3rd case in one month

Sambalpur: Giving an increasing jittery to the farmers of nearby areas, the ash pond of Hindalco Industries here breached once again on Wednesday, a third such incident in past one month. According to information received, ash mixed water has extensively inundated the surrounding agricultural fields of Budhapata area.

Earlier on August 16, ash pond of the company developed a crack and the overflowing ash water allegedly affected about 10,000 acres of agriculture farms.

According to local people the polluted ash water had flowed into nearby low-lying areas as well as the Sambalpur distributary canal, affecting a major chunk of the paddy fields. The heavy rain triggered situation which led to the formation of black thick layers on the fields, had raised question on paddy yielding, farmers observed.

A similar incident had occurred on August 7 which farmers claim affected nearly 30 acres of farming land of nearby areas.