KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Dec 25: The Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) and East Singhbhum district administration are gearing up to hold a public hearing over the proposed expansion program of a local sponge iron unit at Hata near Jamshedpur.
The public hearing is scheduled to be held at Tetla panchayat close to the industrial unit — Shah Sponge & Power Ltd — from 11.00 am on December 29.
The residents of Tetla panchayat and the adjoining Juri panchayat where the sponge iron is located are resentful of the working style of the company management, especially about the spreading of pollution in the area; an uneasy calm is prevailing before the “Jan Sunwaai.”
Established in 2005, Shah Sponge & Power Ltd can produce about two lakh tons of sponge and other iron products annually. The company also has a thermal power plant producing 15 MW of electricity.
While resorting to having an expansion program, the company, which has a worker strength of about 1,200, has planned to produce 6,43,500 tons of sponge iron, 1,99,500 tons of billets, 1,65,000 tons of rolled products, 65,000 tons of ferro alloys per annum beside increasing the power generation from 15 MWs to 70 MWs.
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Villagers endure environmental peril, many mum over job fears
The villagers, mostly tribals, are aggrieved because their traditional source of income — cultivation — is increasingly in peril due to the pollution being spread by the sponge iron unit.
But the majority of the villagers are unforthcoming because they have been given jobs in the company at an average rate of Rs 9,000 a month. They are tight-lipped because they fear they may be sacked from their jobs if they open their mouth regarding their grievances at or before the public hearing.
Also read: Uneasy calm prevails as JSPCB and local admin to hold ‘Jan Sunwaai’ on sponge iron unit’s expansion near Jamshedpur
A cursory look surrounding Khapparsai village, where the industrial unit stands, will unravel how much it has been affected by this polluting plant during the past two decades. Green fields have turned dusky, water bodies blackened, and the grazing cattle scene is hardly noticed.
Moreover, the road leading to the sponge iron plant is left hardly worth riding by smaller vehicles and bicycles due to the plying of heavy vehicles on the ‘kaccha’ road.
The view of the damaged road due to the plying of heavy vehicles to and from the Shah Sponge & Power Ltd at Hata in East Singhbhum district[/caption]
Hata and its approaching villages once used to be a stretch of lush greenery, often attracting residents from Jamshedpur to visit there for joy rides.
But Hata is no longer the same as it is increasingly becoming dusty, and its skyline is marked by industrial chimneys emanating black and white smoke.
Two out of five residents were found smiling while speaking about their financial condition after the sponge iron unit came there, but the rest of the residents were critical of the company management.
“Earlier, I had to remain within food for even a day before the company was set up here. But I earn Rs 9,000 a month by working in this company,” said Durga Sardar while talking to this correspondent.
Another resident, Budheswar Sardar who works as a driver somewhere else refrained from talking anything about the company, mentioning that the owners of the company are very resourceful.
One of the residents, Durga Sardar, whose life changed after getting employment in the Shah Sponge & Power Ltd at Hata in East Singhbhum[/caption]
Another resident, Budheswar Sardar, who works as a driver somewhere else, refrained from talking anything about the company, mentioning that the company’s owners are very resourceful.
But one of the residents, Mantu Singh Sardar, said their life has been hell since the sponge iron unit was set up here.
“Our area is filled with dust particles and no one seems to be concerned about it. We have come to know that the company management have installed ESP (electrostatic precipitator) but do keep it operational during day time only as the machine consumes excessive power. If the company would keep the ESP operational 24 hours, then there would not have been so much pollution in the area,” observed Mantu while talking to The Jharkhand Story.
The resident further said, “The environment of this region has been affected so much due to the existing capacity of the sponge iron unit, and what will be volume up its impact when the company management goes for their expansion program.”
Significantly, more than one resident observed that they are silent because they know well that the management of this sponge iron unit will manage to overcome any hurdle in the way of the expansion program as they are capable enough to handle the authorities in the JSPCB and the district administration.
Villagers can voice concerns in public hearing: Local MLA
Sanjiv Sardar, a legislator from the Potka assembly segment under which jurisdiction the Shah Sponge &Power Ltd falls, was categorical while replying to the queries by this correspondent.
“The company is located in a place surrounded by villages. Several residents have given their land for setting up the sponge iron unit there. Now, the company is looking for an expansion program, leading the JSPCB and the district administration to hold a public hearing. If any villager has to say anything during the public hearing, let them do so. It is all about the people living there, and I cannot do anything myself only because I represent these people,” said the MLA while talking to The Jharkhand Story.
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