The NGT team led by Prof. (Dr.) P.C. Mishra, visited the affected areas and also examined the extent of damages caused by the ash pond breach to Bheden river.
in August 2017, Vedanta Ash pond was breached and around 40 Lakh metric tonnes of Ash had spread over the agricultural land at Katikela Village and also flowed into the Bheden river.
Irate over the incident, villagers had locked up the main gate of the plant and staged protests demanding compensation for crop loss and rehabilitation to a safer place.
In this regard a case had been filed in National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the Anchalik Paribesh Surkhaya Sangh.
“A case has been filed in NGT regarding the Vedanta’s Ash pond breach, and as per the NGT order, a team of P.C. Mishra Commission visited the Vedanta Ash Pond and inspected the area, regarding what is the status of the area etc. Even a technical presentation was done by Vedanta officials on how they will restore the Ash pond before the Monsoon.” Said Niranjan Mallick, Jharsuguda Regional Officer, Pollution Control Board.
While spokesperson of Vedanta said, “In line with RPDAC recommendation, Vedanta has already paid Rs. 27 lakh as crop compensation to the concerned farmers.
On rehabilitation and resettlement front, on the basis of socio-economic survey, the company has already identified 322 families and so far has completed measurement of 144 houses and a displacement compensation to the tune of Rs. 7.06 crores has already been paid to 53 affected families.
All efforts are in place till date to comply with all the directives in a time bound manner.”
