Companies face flak for exploiting Baitarani

BHUBANESWAR: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday asked the state government not to allow use of water from river Baitarani to the Brahmani River Pellets Limited (BRPL), which is setting up a pellet plant at Kalinga Nagar.
In an interim order, NGT's national bench said water should not be used contrary to the agreement or the purpose for which clearance was granted. Hearing a petition filed by convenor of Baitarani Bachao Andolan Murali Manohar Sharma, working chairman of the Green Bench Justice A S Naidu and expert member P C Mishra ruled that BRPL shouldn't go ahead with construction of its project without obtaining environmental clearance.The tribunal would next hear the case on December 20.
Sharma, in his petition, said nearly 100 industries, including BRPL, Essar Steel Odisha Limited and Jindal Steel and Power Limited, were drawing huge quantities of water from Baitarani for ore beneficiation and slurry transportation.
"Without getting environment clearance, these companies have started construction work, which is arbitrary and illegal. The state government has been deliberately lenient towards them. Water scarcity at the time of need will ruin the future of farmers of five districts unless the companies are restricted from doing so," said Sharma.
People of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Kendrapada and Bhadrak districts depend on river Baitarani. For the last three years, villagers of five districts have been opposing use of water by industries.