The Orissa Assembly Committee on Environment has viewed with concern that Oswal Chemicals & Fertilisers Limited, Paradip, is the 'worst offender' in polluting the environment.
Speaker Maheswar Mohanty presented the inquiry report to the House on Friday detailing allegations of emission of toxic gases from Oswal's fertiliser plant at Paradip and its adverse effect on the environment and ecology.
The House Committee, while castigating Oswal expressed satisfaction over the fertiliser cooperative major IFFCO and its compliance with the pollution control and remedial measures prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
While the inquiry was in progress, IFFCO had taken over the Oswal plant in September last year. The plant has a two-million-tonne capacity to produce both DAP and complex fertilisers annually. It also has a phosphoric acid plant.
During Oswal's control, the plant was time and again issued closure notices for its non-adherence to pollution control norms prescribed by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed against Oswal in the Orissa High Court for causing serious environmental damage.
The 14-member House Committee, headed by the Speaker, was formed in the wake of a serious hue and cry on the floor of the Assembly over the allegations of toxic gas emissions from the Oswal plant. The Committee observed that IFFCO has already taken measures to minimise air pollution and ammonia leakage, which were cases of major concern .
The committee has expressed confidence in IFFCO that its long-standing experience would bring a permanent solution to the pollution problem and relieve the local populace from the fear of health hazards. The plant is now headed by KL Singh, Director (External Projects) of IFFCO. He is rated as an industry-savvy and environment-friendly technocrat in the country's fertiliser industry.
The committee has recommended various measures, including continuous running of the scrubbers in acid plants, neutralisation of residual wastes and prohibiting fluoride contamination to the groundwater. Immediate measures like increasing the height of the dam, transportation of sulphur by pneumatic pipeline, zero discharge from plant and annual environmental safety audit have been advised by the committee. Besides, massive plantation in and around the plant and Mahakalpada has also been suggested.
