State committee raps two steel companies

DHENKANAL: The state assembly standing committee has asked two steel companies - Bhusan Steel and Energy Limited, and BRG Iron and Steel Co — to submit reports within three months on their status of recruitment, plantation, pollution control measures and peripheral development work in the region.
The committee, during its visit to the Bhusan Steel and Energy Limited site at Merhamandali of Dhenkanal on Tuesday, found serious lapses in government guidelines on the matter.
At the review meeting, BSL vice president Satish Tyagi said the company has engaged 1,237 persons belonging to displaced families. As many as 41 families were displaced and their children are undergoing ITI training sponsored by BSL management, he said.
The committee, however, was not convinced with the claims, with the district employment officer P K Mohanty saying he had no such information till July 2011.
The committee also expressed shock over employees not covered under provident fund and insurance facilities by the company. More than 90 persons have died on duty in BSL and their families were deprived of pension as the workers were not covered by PF facility. More than 750 workers are getting payment on vouchers and no official record is being maintained since the day of their entry into BSL, the committee observed.
While BSL VP Tyagi said 41 families have been displaced and rehabilitated in a new rehabilitation colony maintained by the company, the committee expressed dissatisfaction as the colony does not have school facilities as well as vocational training facilities for residents.
The committee also took stock of water pollution, observing BSL is releasing untreated waste water into Brahmani river passing through nearby Kisinda and Lingira nala. State pollution board regional officer Sitikantha Sahoo said they had issued show cause notice to the company on the problem and there is no ash pond being maintained by BSL.
This apart, divisional forest officer in the region was asked to take action against the BSL for failing to undertake required plantation in the factory premises. Only 65,660 saplings were planted against the target of 3.60 lakh saplings in the designated green belt of the company, the committee observed.
Committee member and assembly chief whip Rabi Narayan Pany directed the district administration to take the enforcement drive in the matter urgently.
The committee also criticized the BRG Iron and Steel Company for polluting water and air since it started production in the region. The company has also been courting controversy in its drive to acquire more land for the expansion of its units in the face of opposition from land losers, who are not willing to accept the price being offered by the company.