By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Brahmani, the second largest river of Odisha, and Tikira considered as the lifelines for the denizens of Kaniha block in Angul district, have become contaminated due to discharge of industrial effluents.
Locals alleged that mostly the industrial waste is discharged from the power behemoth National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC) that contains radioactive ingredients and other lethal chemicals. Fly ash slurry of NTPC Captive Power Plant(CPP) and turbine oil of Regali hydel project flow into the Brahmani river causing immense damage to water quality making it unfit for human consumption.
Villagers of Baruan, Tolakbeda, Bijigola, Burubahal and Samal alleged that they are affected with skin diseases and other ailments as they take bath and use river water for their daily needs. A large number of dead fish are seen floating on river waters and this a regular sight, the villagers said. Dwindling supply of fish has affected fishermen community who lost their avocation due to contamination of water.
The district administration, the villagers alleged, has turned a deaf ear to their complaints. 'No action has been taken against the erring industrial concerns for violating environmental norms. The officials of Regional Pollution Control Board at Angul are hand in glove with the polluters. They refrain from taking exemplary action against them', the villagers further alleged.
They alleged that pipe water projects in the above mentioned villages have become useless as the industrial authorities supply contaminated water from river Brahmani.
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