Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: A day after sending notice to Bhusan Energy Ltd (BEL) for shutting down its 300 MW power plant in Dhenkanal district, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on Wednesday sealed the unit.
 
"We have sealed two units of BSL's power plant at Narendrapur village as per the direction of the Member Secretary of the SPCB," Anil Kumar Patnaik, sub-collector of Dhenkanal district, told reporters.

Though senior executives of BSL were present at the power plant, they refused to comment.

 
Sources said, the plant's sealing process was executed in the presence of Sub-collector, SDPO and one platoon police force.

 
"We are forced to shut down the plant as the BSL has not taken any step to rectify mistakes committed as regards air and water pollution," SPCB regional manager Sitakant Sahu said.

The power plant supplies electricity to Bhushan Steel Limited (BSL)'s three million-tonne steel plant located nearby. The steel plant manufactures pig iron, billets, slabs and hot-rolled steel coil.

 
Notably, on Tuesday, the SPCB issued the notice to BEL's plant for violation of pollution norms under Section 31A of Air (prevention & control of pollution) Act,1981, and Section 33A of Water (prevention & control of pollution) Act, 1974.



The pollution control board said since the company's effluent treatment plant was not in operation, the untreated ash pond and other chemicals were being released to Kisinda nullah.



BEL had been dumping fly ash and other waste materials inside the plant thereby making pollution level high in the area, the board officials said.
 
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