The Hindu , Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Correspondent : Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: Faced with rapidly degrading environments in their proximity, several villagers on Monday went through a unique learning process for submitting their complaints in proper way in order to take the violators to the task. The pre-emptive step would help the villagers, who have been facing various pollution hazards, alert the administration about risk of giving permissions to any mining companies to operate in their areas. A two-page pro- forma was handed over to these villagers to collect information including frequent checking of pollution level by competent authorities, any occurred, due to mining operations, detail of deaths and their causes and police reports. These villagers will also be guided on ready-to-use air pollution kit by which they would be able to check if their atmosphere is polluted by a mining or industrial operation. The two day programme organised by city-based non-government organisation ‘Vasundhara’ intended to train the people on various aspects of environmental laws and clearance processes. Purnachandra Pradhan from Suakati area of Keonjhar village said they were “silently” bearing pollution hazards due to iron ore mining and people were suffering from different diseases. “We will now start submitting complaints either with panchayat office or State Pollution Control Board. We are not worried whether any action is taken against violator or not. But the process must get going immediately,” Mr. Pradhan said. According to a study, prevalence of respiratory and water-borne diseases has been high among local people in the Suakati area. Intense mining operation in mineral rich districts has already pushed to the local people to a corner. Contrary to claims by State Government and private companies, the development, which was expected from mineral exploitation still eluded.

SOURCE : The Hindu,Tuesday, June 17, 2008