Senior Minister in the Raghubar Das Cabinet and in-charge of Food and Civil Supplies Department Saryu Roy has come down heavily on Chairman of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) for turning a blind eye to pollution and encroachment into important rivers of Jharkhand.
He is on a tour of the State and has come across filthy condition which several important rivers have reached. Many of those, particularly flowing from coal mining areas have reached to extinction, thanks to untreated effluents, mining waste and illegal brick kilns.
“I visited places like Khalari where tributary of the Damodar, Saphi, is in grave danger. Brick kiln operators in the area are digging up soil of the river. Overburden from the CCL is being dumped on both the banks of the river Sonidubi. Monnet coal washery is also doing the same. At some places they have even filled up the river beds. This is very devastating and painful situation. I have reprimanded PCB chief for inaction,” Roy told The Pioneer over phone on Wednesday.
What irked the Minister most was the said lukewarm response of JSPCB Chairman Dev Dutta Sharma. “When I called him up and informed about the condition of the rivers, he responded saying that he would look into the matter after June 5 (the World Environment Day). I asked what is the significance of celebrating World Environment Day in offices and hotels when the situation on the ground is like this,” Roy pointed out. He, at the same time, also asked Ranchi DC and directed him to look into the matter and initiate notices to the violators.
The Minister, a known environmental activist who has been fighting for the cause of rivers like Damodar, Subarnarekha, Kharkai, Bokaro and host of others suffocating under duress of industrial effluents, coal washeries and mine wastes, is at present visiting places where the danger has reached up to its limit. Studies on river pollution rate Damodar and Subarnarekha among the most polluted rivers of the country.
On being contacted, DD Sharma admitted about the conversation. “I know that the Minister is visiting those places. I have also reports (about river pollutants). Action would be initiated against those violating environmental norms,” said the Chairman.
However, when asked being a Minister in the State Government what would be his action on the gross violation of environmental norms, Roy expressed helplessness. “What I am doing is in my personal capacity and on individual level. I cannot do much in this matter as a Minister since the Department is with the Chief Minister,” he said.
“Moreover, a detailed report would be prepared on the state of the rivers and water bodies and presented before the State Government as well as the Centre. The report would point out reasons and the measures required for saving the rivers,” he said.
