Row over Baitarani water in Odisha: Essar’s bluff called

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Keonjhar, Jan 20:

Essar Steel has left no stones unturned to trick locals of Basantpur panchayat of Keonjhar district in Odisha to draw water from Baitarani River for its steel plant.  In a new revelation, Keonjhar Citizens’ Forum has pointed out that Essar Steel had submitted a proposal to the Union Government stating it needs a large quantity of water for its beneficiation plant to reduce pollution, which never materialized.

In Para 1.2 of the said proposal, the company had pointed out that Odisha has a large reserve of iron ore. However, most companies prefer to take only high grade ore (above 63 grade) and leave the dust and lower quality ore (below 63 grade) lying in the area which leads to air pollution in the area and create health hazards.

Essar, in its proposal for environmental clearance from the Central Government, had wanted to set up a beneficiation plant which would use the low grade material and turn it to high grade to minimize waste and reduce the impact on the environment.

The company had said it needed a large amount of water for the said plant.

Even though the Citizen’s Forum of Keonjhar and political parties were not very pleased with the move for sharing water, the citizens of the district had welcomed the move realising the necessity of a beneficiation plant to reduce pollution.

However, the company never built the plant it promised, but continues to draw water from the river.

Yesterday, we had exposed the blatant violation of the agreement by Essar Steel to draw water in an article here ( http://odishasuntimes.com/108958/baitarani-water-row-odisha-govt-turns-blind-eye-essars-contract-violation/).

However, it appears, that was not all. Essar continues to use only high grade ore and leaves the low grade and dust out polluting the environment.

“The residents of Basantpur panchayat are at the receiving end of this manipulation. Essar hasn’t set up the beneficiation plant as promised, even after getting the environmental clearance from the ministry. If the beneficiation hasn’t started, why it should draw water from the river?” asked President of Keonjhar Citizen’s Forum Kiran Shankar Sahoo.