NGT Orders Probe Into OPGC’s Proposed Ash Pond Near Odisha’s Mahanadi River Bank

Bhubaneswar: Acting on a complaint of the people against the decision of the Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) to construct an ash pond near the bank of Mahanadi, the National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed the member of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) to conduct an on-the-spot investigation and initiate appropriate action.

The villagers of Tilia in Jharsuguda district had protested against the construction work initiated by the district administration for the proposed OPGC ash pond near the river bank.

Alleging that the district administration has acquired their land for the ash pond, the construction of which has begun by the OPGC for its thermal power plant, the villagers said that as the ash pond is within 500 metres from the river bank, it will pollute the river water and create health hazards in the village.