February 25th 2025.
A heated discussion took place in Rourkela between the residents of Mahipani and the Sundargarh district administration. However, the discussion was cut short as the administration requested for a seven-day extension to further review the issue at hand. The villagers were protesting against the decision of dumping fly ash in a local stone quarry, which serves as a crucial water source for both humans and animals.
According to reports, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board had ordered a corporate conglomerate from Jharsuguda to dump fly ash in the quarry located in Mahipani. This quarry, which is about 40 feet deep, provides water all year round to the villagers and their livestock. The villagers were taken aback by the consent order issued on December 4, 2024, which permitted the dumping of fly ash in an area of 1.5 acres in Mahipani. The order was valid until March 31, 2025, and allowed for approximately 150,000 cubic meters of fly ash to be filled in the quarry.
In response to this decision, over 400 villagers, led by environmental activist Nisha Mahato, staged a protest outside the Bisra block office. They demanded a meeting with Sub-Collector Bijaya Nayak to address their concerns. However, Mahato reported that Nayak refused to stop the project, citing that the government's decision was final. He also mentioned that water would be supplied through tankers as an alternative, which Mahato deemed as an inadequate solution.
Sarpanch Bicha Minz confirmed that the gram sabha (village council) unanimously opposed the dumping of fly ash in their village and did not issue any No Objection Certificate (NOC). Despite several attempts, the media was unable to reach Nayak for a comment on this matter. The villagers are determined to continue their protest until their voices are heard and the decision to dump fly ash is reconsidered.
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