The direction came after a review meeting on Friday in Sambalpur, attended by forest and environment secretary, representatives of industries, forest officials and officials of Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB). "The industries have been asked to undertake plantation work to make the industrial belt environment-friendly. It is part of their corporate social responsibility," said OSPCB member secretary L K Tewari. The industries have to undertake the plantation work in consultation with district administration officials, he said. "Whether they (industries) plant trees on the factory premises or outside or seek additional land for the plantation, they need to consult forest officials. Detailed discussion in this regard was held at the review meeting," Tewari said.

Mainly sponge iron, steel, aluminum smelter plants and thermal power plants have been set up in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda industrial belt, said to be one of the most polluted regions in the state. Earlier, Central Pollution Control Board had advised against setting up of new units in the area without a proper carrying capacity study. Around 70 small and big industries operate in the region.

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institution, which undertook 'carrying capacity' survey recently in Jharsuguda and Sambalpur observed that air quality in the area is not good. The report revealed that emission of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and fluoride is causing immense environmental hazards. "The particulate matter - 10 and 2.5 - is responsible for air pollution in the area. Mainly, thermal plants, refractories, sponge iron units, coal mines have a cumulative effect on the environment," said a senior environment scientist.