The Bhushan Power and Steel plant at Thelkuli in Sambalpur

Sambalpur, Sept. 17: The regional office of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board here sealed some of units of Bhushan Power and Steel Limited at Thelkuli on Monday for allegedly violation of pollution norms.

Regional officer of the board Hemendra Nath Naik said: “We found violation of pollution norms at Bhushan Power and Steel Limited in Thelkuli. A 60MW power plant, two sponge iron kilns and an electrical arc furnace were sealed last evening.”

The units were emitting smoke that carried particles beyond the permissible limit.

“The plant authority had been served notice several times for the violation. But they did not comply with the direction of the board,” he said, adding that he had inspected the plant in July and observed the violations.

Officials said the electro static precipitator, which controls emission, was not functioning properly.

In May, Naik had conducted a surprise visit to verify the operational status and efficacy of the pollution-control devices. He had found that pollution norms were not being followed and had issued a direction to the plant authority to shut down the polluting units. The plant was also directed to take up corrective measures and maintenance activities to remove lapses and defects. The board had also directed the authorities not to resume operation of the units till the problem was solved, verified and approved.

A company official said the units had been closed “until further orders from the authorities”.