The Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Delhi-based the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have evinced interest to undertake the ‘environmental carrying capacity’ study proposed by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) in the Sambalpur-Jharsuguda belt. SPCB had invited technical offers from reputed institutes of the country like five IITs (Kanpur, Kharagpur, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai), the Nagpur-based NEERI and Delhi based TERI.
Only TERI and NEERI have submitted their offers within the stipulated time period. However, none of the IITs has come forward with proposal to carry out the study despite extension of the proposal submission period to accommodate them.
SPCB is examining both the proposals and the final decision on it will be taken soon, sources said. The selected institute will be asked to make a comprehensive study on the environmental carrying capacity in this belt. Since the submission of the report will take a long time, the institute will be required to submit an interim report within 6 months of starting the study.
The study will consider the existing level of water and air pollution and project future levels of pollution within 35-km radius of Rengali.
Based on the study, the institute will recommend how many industries should come up in this belt in sectors like power, aluminium and steel. Since the seasonal data for a year will be required for the study, it is likely to take more than a year.