File picture of the ultra-violet net-barricade at Paradip port

Paradip, Aug. 29: Authorities will expand ultra-violet net-barricade to the restricted area of the Paradip Port Trust to curb air pollution caused by suspended mineral ore particles.

Nearly 2sqkm boundary area of the port will be brought under the barricade. This is in addition to the 1.23sqkm area, already brought under the latest pollution control mechanism.

The state pollution control board had expressed concern over the air pollution in the port area and asked the port trust authorities to undertake corrective measures.

As a part of the pollution-control measures, the barricade was installed to curb air pollution within the port civil township limits. It has considerably brought down the pollution level. The barricade is being extended from gate No. 3 to gate No. 4.

The Rs 14 crore project, for which tender bidding will be done shortly, has been drawn up for further spreading out of the barricade. A port official said Rs 8 crore had been spent for implementation of the first phase of the barricade installation last year.

The House committee had expressed concern over the growing pollution level and called for a comprehensive environment management plan in and around the port town.

“The port trust has installed the ultra-violet net barricade to stop emission of pollution from the restricted port area. Paying due regard to the pollution board and the House committee directions, the barricade wall has come up. The barricade has emerged as a useful tool to check dispersing of dusty particles in the air. The dust particles emanating from ores transported to the port were a constant source of pollution,” said port trust chairman Sudhansu Sekhara Mishra.

The barricade structures will be 12-metre tall, of which the netted portions are 10-metre long. The nets are mono-filament yarn having in-built apertures and opening for passage of air and absorption of dust particles.