Rourkela: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has modified its advisory regarding closure of all sponge iron plants in and around Odisha’s Rourkela to ensure low industrial emission during FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup- 2023.
According to reports, OSPCB in its revised advisory has stated that 21 sponge iron plants in Kuarnmunda and Kalunga should remain closed from January 5 to 28 and not for the entire month.
In its earlier advisory, the OSPCB had asked all the sponge iron units to remain closed from January 1 to 31.
This apart, the advisory further clarified that power plants, steel melting shops, pellet plants and wet beneficiation plants may continue operations with strict compliance with pollution control norms.
The to keep the industrial units shut was stated to have come in the wake of Sundargarh district administration’s efforts to keep the environment around Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium free of pollution during the mega international hockey tournament.
An estimated 6,000 workers are likely to be affected due to the closure of the sponge iron plants, sources said.
Meanwhile, the district administration and Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) have been engaged in the last minute touch to spruce up the city and the places around the stadium in the run-up to the Hockey World Cup.
The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, which is tipped to be the biggest hockey stadium in the country with seat capacity of over 20,000, will host as many as 20 matches during the international tournament that will kick off from January 13.
