Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is all set to bring new guidelines for proper management and disposal of industrial waste in different parts of the state to deal with increasing pollution and health hazards.
Giving this information, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told reporters on Tuesday that disposal of solid and liquid waste materials from industrial units has emerged as a major challenge in several districts.
He said pollution due to industrial waste and effluents has assumed an alarming shape in districts including Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Angul, Sambalpur and Jajpur.
Stating that the state government has already initiated steps to tackle the problem, the Minister said a high-level meeting is slated to be held at the office of the Revenue Development
Commissioner (North) on November 10 to discuss measures required for disposal of ash and other waste released by thermal power plants at different places.
Noting that the previous government had given permission to Vedanta to dispose of ash in an abandoned mines area in Lakhanpur of Jharsuguda area in 2023, Pujari said the permission has been withdrawn as water in a reservoir was getting severely polluted because of dumping of ash.
The Minster said detailed discussion will be held at the upcoming meeting and and efforts made to identify suitable locations for disposal of ash and other waste from industrial units.
Subsequently, a state-level meeting will also be held to prepare fresh guidelines as the state government wants to come out with new advisory for industrial units as part of measures to curb air and water pollution, he added.