5 degree cut in Angul-Talcher temp in 10 yrs: Minister

OST Bureau

Angul, July 31: The state government has embarked on an ambitious plan to reduce the mean temperature in the Angul-Talcher industrial belt by five degrees centigrade in the next 10 years through a massive plantation programme in the area.

Talking to reporters after taking stock of plantation work by industries in the area, Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray said the Talcher-Angul area has emerged as one of the hottest places in the country and there was a need to bring down the temperature in the area.

“We have advised the industries to go beyond their mandatory afforestation target and undertake a massive plantation drive to bring down the temperature in the area,” the Minister said warning that stringent action would be taken against companies that fail to meet their plantation target.

“Industries in the area must adhere to pollution and plantation norms set for them. But we found that many of them have violated these norms and have warned them that this will not be tolerated,” Routray said.

A decision was taken at the meeting to issue notices to Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and Bhushan Steel Limited for causing pollution.