Air pollution caused by the thermal power stations, coal mines and chemical industries in Bermo sub-division has triggered grave concern.

Bermo is located as one of the most polluted areas of Jharkhand. Over here, there are seven thermal power stations and five coal mines including Dhori, Govindpur, Kargali, Kathara, Govindpur and Swang owned by the Central Coal Field Ltd, Indian Explosives Limited in Gomia and Bharat Refractories Ltd which have been the chief culprits.

The Chanderpura Thermal Power Station (CTPS), Bokaro Thermal Power station (BTPS) and Tenughat Thermal Power Station (TTPS) and Kathara captive power plants of CCL in the sub-division are the major polluting units. Steps initiated by the DVC, Jharkhand Government and CCK to control pollution have met with limited success .

The four thermal plants took little precaution in this direction and the emanating coal dust has severely damaged the environment. This dust spreads over 25 kilometres and badly affects residents in and around Bermo.

“Although the DVC management installed the ESP (Electro Static Precipitate) in all its thermal power plants it is now malfunctioning. The Central Pollution Control Board has now marked these factories as pollutants,” a source said.

The CCL is responsible for discharging water bearing coal dust and other harmful particles in the fields. These CCL mines have allegedly destroyed the vegetation in surrounding areas by following the practice of irresponsible mining. The law requires the CCL to plant trees after its operations. Huge discharge of fly ash into the Damodar, known as the Ganga of Jharkhand, is also sending alarm bells ringing. Local envoirmentalist Gulab Prajapati blamed the pollution board’s indifference for the contamination of Damodar,” the forests here are in serious danger due to large-scale tree felling,” he added.

Environmentalist Gulab Prajapati told The Pioneer that plying of around 5,000 dumpers transporting coal and coal dust are other major irritants. As a result, many residents of the localities suffer from bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis and lung cancer. These vehicles are also responsible for 90 per cent of the accidents here.

Rules demanding these dumpers be covered with tarpaulin and water sprinkling on road to ensure the dust are flouted on a most regular basis. Most of the transporters in Bermo enjoy political patronage. But both the district authorities and the Pollution Control Board have turned a blind eye to this blatant violation of the law.