Nalco Nagar- A Paradise For Drug Peddlers?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The Aluminium city, Nalco Nagar, has of late become a paradise for drug peddlers. Most of the brown surgar peddlers were nabbed by police from Girang, Kandasar, Kaniabeda, Balaramprasad , Talcher and Angul which are located in close proximity to Nalco Nagar.

Latest reports said that the drug mafia from Balasore clandestinely operate their network through Dhenkanal to supply the banned drug to potential customers who are largely youngsters and belived to the wards of highly rich businessmen and high salaried employees of industrial concerns in Nalco Nagar,  Talcher and in the coal belt.

Angul, Nalco Nagar and Dhenkanal police have successfully nabbed the drug peddlers in raids and operations conducted since January this year with the seizure of nearly 300 grams of brown sugar worth over Rs 30 lakh. Police sources said the operation to nab drug peddlers will continue till the industrial regions of Angul district are flushed out of the drug mafia dealing in brown sugar. They emphasized that it has also become the moral responsibility of public at large to inform the police if they come across such suspicious elements operating in the region.

Sources said it is very difficult to determine the number of drug peddlers operating in Nalco Nagar region, Talcher and Angul as most of them engage teenagers to supply the contraband to the customers clandestinely. They said these teenagers successfully evade the watchful eyes of police and successfully carry out the operation. The seizure of brown sugar might be the tip of the iceberg if one has to go by the vast network the drug mafia have successfully spread out in Angul-Talcher industrial region, the sources reasoned.           

Rising Temperature In Winter To Accelerate Forest Fire In Angul District?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Rapid industrialization,denudation of natural forest,forest fire and above all climate change have become responsible for excessive rise in temperature in Angul district during winter. There is a remarkable increase in day temperature since January with the mercury hovering between 31 degree celcius to 33 throwing the day to day life of people of this industrial district out of gear.

While a number of Sal forests in Talcher and Pallahara are in the grip of massive fire, forest officials and nature lovers working for various wildlife organizations did not rule out bush fire which might be dangerous for village forests protected by people. Reports said increase in temperature due to scorching sun might be damaging for flora and fauna in Angul district which houses Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary and other natural reserved forests.

Forest officials in Bantala, Purunakote and Pampasara said they have been keeping a close watch on the forest pockets which are vulnerable to forest fire but added that villagers living near these areas must not shy away from their responsibility of dousing the conflagration when spotted. They said they must immediately inform the corncerned Watchers and forest staff on fire incidents which are very common in dry season. We have been undertaking regular patrolling and this practice will continue till excessive heat and dry season is prevalent, the officials added.

Social activists working in community based forest organizations alleged that the concerned department seemed to be taking no concrete step to put an end to elephant-man conflict nor worried about the forest fire which may destroy the ecosystem.