The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) issued showcause notices to five sponge iron plants operating in Odisha in 2012-13 for their failure to comply with pollution emission norms.
Bhushan Steel Ltd, Adhunik Metaliks Ltd, Scan Steel Ltd, Maa Sakumbari Sponge Ltd and Thakurprasad Sao & Sons Ltd were served showcause notices in 2012-13, minister for forest & environment Bijayshree Routray informed the state assembly in a state reply.
The units had violated Pollution Control Act 1981 and Water Pollution Control Act 1974.
Besides, 17 sponge iron plants were also issued direction for improvement by SPCB. These included MSP Metaliks, Concast Steel & Power, Action Ispat & Power Ltd, KJ Ispat Ltd and Aarti Steels Ltd to name a few.
In 2011-12, the SPCB had slapped showcause notices to 73 sponge iron plants and closure directions to 26 units.
It may be noted that the state government had engaged Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur to carry out a detailed study on the functioning of 104 sponge iron plants in the state. The institute had recommended these plants to upgrade bag filter and install pneumatic dust handling system to control pollution.
The sponge iron plants are mostly concentrated in Sundergarh (47) and Keonjhar (21) districts with the total production capacity being around 37,000 tonnes per day.
