OPSCB Finds Discharge Of Untreated Sewage Into 2 Rivers In Rourkela, Sends Notices To NIT-R, Others

Rourkela: In its effort to check pollution in Brahmani and Koel rivers, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) conducted inspections and found discharge of untreated sewage from different sources, including the National Institute of Technology-Rourkela (NIT-R) campus.

As per reports, officials of OSPCB’s regional office in Rourkela conducted surprise inspections during which they found that untreated sewage and sullage waste water from NIT-R’s academic, administrative, and residential buildings, including hostels, were directly released to a low-lying area near Bartoli behind the campus.

It was found that this untreated waste water then flowed into the Koel river through a natural drain near Jhirpani bridge. The OSPCB expressed disappointment that NIT-R, despite providing technical guidance on waste management, lacked compliance in its own practices.

A written instruction was issued to the NIT-R Director, seeking immediate corrective measures for sewage and sullage waste water treatment and proper handling of solid waste on the campus. The institute was asked to submit an action taken report soon, TNIE reported.

The inspection team also visited waste water discharge points near Jhirpani bridge and Koelnagar and found direct release of filthy water from Koelnagar, Jagda, and Jhirpani into the Koel river.
This apart, untreated waste water was found directly entering the Brahmani river near Panposh from various pockets within the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) limits.

OSPCB regional officer and additional chief environment scientist A K Mallick was quoted as saying that necessary instructions have been issued to NIT-R and other organisations to prevent further pollution of river water. Notably, multiple discharge points are situated near drinking water intake wells of the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) of SAIL on both rivers.

Meanwhile, it was reportedly found that a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) for 11 NIT-R hostels constructed a decade ago is defunct. A new STP of 1.5 Million Litres per Day (MLD) is under construction. However, it is expected to take at least 30 months to become operational.