NALCO’s smelter plant in Angul charged by residents for ash breach

The aluminium smelter plant of National Aluminium Company (NALCO) in Angul has been charged for polluting the local Nandira watercourse in the area.

The residents alleged that the leaked residue from the PSU Navaratna Company’s ash pond has been polluting the watercourse and eventually adjoining up to the pollution of Brahmani River.

A resident, said: “This is a recurring problem here and a result of NALCO’s shoddy decisions. We are facing a grave health hazard here. Even our cattle are getting diseases after drinking water from this watercourse.”

“The NALCO authorities never seem to buzz to our repeated requests for the successful completion of the slurry project that aims to reduce the ash leakage problem forever,” he added.

While another local alleged: “Fishermen dependent on the watercourse are on the verge of losing their livelihood because the fish are dying owing to the rising level of toxins in the water.”

Conversely, the NALCO authorities have debunked the allegations levelled by the locals.

A clarification issued by the NALCO authorities on this issue stated: “We had repaired the pipeline the moment it leaked ash. Moreover, the leak happened inside our premises and it did not pollute any watercourse outside.”

The aluminium company in their statement also said that their quick action has saved the local areas from getting affected by ash.

Anup Kumar Mallik, an official of Regional Pollution Control Board, said that they will send a team to the village to investigate the allegations.”