Orissa High Court

Cuttack, Jan. 20: A PIL has been filed in Orissa High Court against the expansion of Essel Mining and Industries Limited. The PIL has sought intervention against the company’s expansion of Jillinglota iron and manganese mines in Barbil area of Keonjhar district by installation of a beneficiation plant and diversion of water from Dalco nullah.

“The expansion of the mines would lead to significant increase in air and water pollution and would have cascading effects on the general health of the villagers affecting their life, while diversion of water from Dalco nullah will result in severe scarcity of both drinking and irrigation water in the region,” the PIL contended.

Prasanta Kumar Ghana (36), a resident of Kamalpur area under Gurutuam police limits in Keonjhar district, filed the petition on Wednesday seeking quashing of the permission granted to the company for drawing water from the Dalco nullah.

According to the petition, Essel Mining and Industries Ltd (EMIL) had in its draft environmental impact assessment had proposed to meet its water requirement for the expansion programme mainly from Dalco nullah. The Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (IPICOL) had accordingly recommended sanction of 2.45 cusecs of water from Dalco nullah for industrial use.

EMIL’s mining lease area lies adjacent to the Jajang gram panchayat, constituting nine villages with a population of around 8,300.

Dalco nullah is a rivulet which originates from Jajanga and flows through Jajang gram panchayat and joins Baitarani river. It is the only source of water for the people of the area. Due to increasing mining activities in the upper catchment area, there has been reduction of water flow in recent years. Apart from drinking purposes, water from the nullah is also used for irrigation.

“Any diversion of water from the nullah will adversely affect the regional ecological balance and would have serious repercussion on life and economy of the local people. Ensuring water supply for industrial use while there is not sufficient water for the local people is a hostile discrimination,” the petition contended.