Residents complain of delayed sunrise and early sunset due to air pollution

Ranchi, July 16: Tata Steel and Rungta Group are being watched for possible violation of environmental norms in West Bokaro and Ramgarh with the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) preparing to issue showcause notices against them both.

JSPCB chairman Mani Shankar said the board would showcause Tata Steel and a few sponge iron units of Ramgarh tomorrow.

“We expect such big entities to lead by example and not just show concern and promise of corrective measures only when we crack the whip,” he told The Telegraph.

Tata Steel has a unit in West Bokaro, Ghatotand (Hazaribagh), which according to the board’s environment engineer Sudhir Kumar, has three sections — colliery, washery and power units.

“The basic problem is of waste handling which is so poor that residential areas complain of delayed sunrise and early sunset. Dump heaps, some as high as 130 ft, create continuous air and other sorts of pollution,” alleged Kumar, who prepared a report against the violations.

Rungta Group runs Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Limited in Ramgarh which, residents complained, were also guilty of numerous environmental violations.

“The entire area where it is located is filled with dust. Their housekeeping is below average, dumping of waste (charcoal) is without any measures resulting in health concerns,” Shankar alleged.

The board had showcaused Jharkhand Ispat once before in May, 2012.

Shankar took the decision to showcause both companies after he toured Ramgarh and its adjacent areas on Saturday and Sunday after a number of complaints of industrial pollution reached his office.

“Besides air pollution, the Tata Group resorts to open blasting in that area which lead to cracking of houses. The board will do all that is required as per the law to stop this,” he said.

According to a local councillor Reena Mehta, people were selling off their homes and looking elsewhere to live because of the pollution in the area.

“I have been pursuing this with the pollution board for long but hardly anything happens,” she rued.

Among the other companies facing action on account of environmental violations, were Dayal Fero and Alloys Ltd, Ramgarh Sponge Iron Ltd, Anandita Trades and Investment Pvt Ltd, Sirka Collery (CCL), Jharkhand Cement and Ispat Ltd, Rajrappa Colliery and Washery Ltd and Venkatesh Sponge Iron Ltd.

“Of these, Anandita’s washery plant is without mandatory no-objection certificates from the state and Centre. Two days ago, we told them to shut down their unit. Now, proper orders will be sent,” Shankar said.