Bhubaneswar, July 15: Forest and environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh today said hexavalent chromium content in the water sample of Damasala nullah and phenol content in Ganda nullah were found beyond permissible limits.

This was found during a test conducted by the State Pollution Control Board.

Damsala nullah is connected with Brahmani river and Ganda nullah with Kharasrota river flowing through the region. As high hexavalent chromium content causes cancer, the State Pollution Control Board has asked all the working mines in Sukinda valley to upgrade their effluent treatment plants and recycle the effluents only after purification, said the minister. Arukh said a survey report had been prepared in collaboration with IIT, Kharagpur, and the mines and industries were asked to upgrade the effluent treatment plants by December this year.

Besides, the authorities of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited and Jindal Stainless Limited in Kalinga Nagar industrial area have also be directed to do the same, as their effluents are released in Ganda nullah, he added.

However, local BJD MLA from Sukinda, Pritiranjan Ghadai, BJP leader K.V. Singh Deo and former minister Debasis Nayak were not satisfied with the minister’s reply. Ghadair wanted to know as to why the effluent treatment plants were not being set up at the dumping sites. The State Pollution Control Board would conduct regular test of water samples, especially during monsoon, the minister said.