Bhubaneswar, June 5: Odisha excise and cooperation minister Damodar Rout today questioned the state government's industrialisation policy and wondered whether there was need for more steel and power plants in view of rising levels of environmental pollution.

Speaking at a programme to mark World Environment Day, the senior minister said: "We have signed a number of MoUs in power, steel and aluminium sectors. Has anyone ever thought of the amount of harmful emissions these would cause? We are already facing its consequences. Drought and erratic rainfall in different parts of the state are the direct result of such industrial activities," he said.

The programme was organised by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board and an NGO-Prerana.

The BJD government has inked MoUs with 93 industrial houses for establishment of power, steel, cement and aluminium plants during the last 15 years and 48 units are now partly operational.

Aware that his statement would spark a controversy, Rout shifted the blame to the state's bureaucracy for causing damage to the environment through industrialisation. "No one should blame me or the chief minister for this. The babus are to blame. They draw up plans without having any experience. Everything happens on paper. They lack experience. Now, we are going to face environmental hazards," Rout said.

Talking about the state's emphasis on the steel sector, he said: "I consider former chief minister Biju babu as my ideal and am inspired by his thoughts. Biju babu always spoke of a second steel plant but never argued in favour of a third plant. One is at Rourkela and the other is at Kalinga Nagar. But now, talks are on for having many steel and power plants. Do we really need them? It is time to ponder on the environmental ramifications of such industrialisation drive."

The minister said guidelines recommended plantations to be carried out in mined areas to compensate the loss of forest cover. "But this has never been properly followed."

Rout found support from officials of the OSPCB. Regional officer Hadibandhu Panigrahi said: "The environmental standards are alarming even in Bhubaneswar. Suspended particles in the air have increased and the number is beyond the permissible limit. This is mainly due to increase in the number of vehicles. The board is monitoring the city's environment at six places."

He said the state government had taken up the issue of CNG conversion with the Union government. Various measures were being taken to improve sewerage and drainage in the city, which would help improve the city's environment.

At another programme too World Environment Day was observed. This year's theme was 'Illegal Trade in Wildlife'.

At another programme to mark the World Environment Day, it was decided that the state forest department would spend Rs 1,170 crore to create a forest cover of 2.5 lakh hectares over the next five years. The state government today gave away 217 Prakruti Mitra awards and 205 Prakruti Bandhu awards for outstanding work in the field of environment protection.

At the programme, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said this year's theme had been to "generate awareness against the mindless killing of wildlife and illegal trade of their body parts. This year's slogan is 'Go Wild for Life'. The objective is to safeguard species that are under threat and take action."

Incidentally, thousands of dead fishes and crabs were seen in the river Bata near Paradip today. Local residents alleged that toxic water released from various industrial houses had caused the death of fishes. A team from the pollution control board is expected to visit the spot.