A poster of Loha Garam Hai

Ranchi, Oct. 16: Iron will and insight into indigenous issues will help script history again.

Jharkhand’s famous director duo Biju Toppo and Meghnath’s latest venture — Loha Garam Hai — will be the only Indian documentary to be screened at the 9th International Indigenous Film Festival, which begins in Toronto, Canada, tomorrow.

Unfortunately, Toppo and Meghnath will have to give their film’s international debut on Saturday a miss because of lack of funds.

Loha Garam Hai is a comprehensive take on sponge-iron factories in Jharkhand and neighbouring states. “The sponge-iron units are ruining our ecology. The alarming level of pollution is making people gasp for air. The film is a survival saga,” Meghnath said, adding that he and Toppo extensively toured factories to get hands-on experience of the sponge-iron industry.

The documentary graphs the origin and meteoric growth of the industry, and, along with it, the increase in pollution levels. “In 1985, there were only three sponge-iron units in the country. By 2005, it multiplied to 206 plants. Very soon, the number will be more than double,” the director expressed his apprehension.

At present, Jharkhand has 41 such units. The industry has been placed in the red category because it causes serious health hazards. The major problem, Meghnath said, was in the production process. While the rest of the world has gas-based plants, which are cleaner and resource-efficient, in India, 80 per cent of sponge-iron is produced in coal-based plants. These lead to poisonous emission — a gaseous mix of heavy metals like cadmium, nickel and manganese.

Released this year, the film has already created an impact in Orissa, prompting the government to shut eight sponge-iron factories in Sundergarh district. It is sure to earn rave reviews at the two-day festival.

This is not the first triumph for Biju-Meghnath. They have won several awards for their issue-based films. About a year ago, their banner, Akhara, won the Vatavaran award instituted by the Union ministry of environment.