By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Coal washeries have posed severe environmental hazard to the Black Diamond township, Talcher, which is already at the receiving end from twelve open cast mines.
The mining township has been reeling under air, water and sound pollution since excavation of coal mines were under taken on a massive scale. The washeries have now added to the dimension of contamination in the region which has multiplied the problem for the inhabitants.
Sources alleged that the coal mining authorities prefer private concerns for washing coal on a huge scale who flout environmental norms. The private firms have set up washing plants near educational institutions and stacking coal close to main thoroughfares in the township that has further compounded the level of pollution.
Coal heaps near the human habitation have contributed to the health hazard as a large chunk of the population of Talcher town suffering from skin ailments and respiratory complications. The groundwater has been contaminated due to excessive digging of coal mines. The water table has also gone down to rock bottom level bringing more miseries to the people.
The regional pollution control officials are allegedly not taking any action against the firms which are responsible for increasing the level of pollution in Talcher.
