OSPCB files case against NTPC, SAIL executives

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has filed a criminal case against top executives including Chief Executive Officer of NTPC-SAIL Power Company Limited (NSPCL) for violating environmental norms.

The case was filed before the court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Rourkela. OSPCB is seeking strong legal action against top officials of NSPCL under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution Act.)

Despite issuance of frequent strictures by OSPCB, discharge of ash slurry into Guradi Nallah and Brahmani River continued and officials who were made party in the case were at helm of the affairs.

In an inspection, OSPCB's Regional Officer of Rourkela observed that overflow of effluent from Ash Pond was taking place which is almost full and hardly any to accommodate fly ash and overflow being discharged to Guradi Nalla.

It suggested the company to undertake urgent remedial measures for creation of adequate space in ash pond for storage of ash slurry and take urgent measures for construction of new ash pond on a war footing basis.

The board had even informed highest authorities realising the gravity of situation and imminent crisis could have arisen.

In subsequent inspection, the board said the status of compliance was not satisfactory and the unit was still resorting to adhoc ash management practice.

Those who could be on line of fires of OSPCB include CEO of NSPCL and former senior manager and Shyam Sundar Sen.

On behalf of OSPCB Dhirendra Prasad Das, a lawyer filed case and OSPCB law officer B. P. Pattjoshi was present on the occasion