Jharsuguda: The eastern zone bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Kolkata has mandated a joint committee to look into allegations of pollution in the Ib River and unauthorized groundwater extraction by an industrial facility in Jharsuguda district.
A complaint was lodged by Digambar Bhoi against Odisha Metallics Pvt Ltd, situated in Marakuta within the Jharsuguda Sadar block.
The petitioner asserts that the business operates over 50 high-capacity borewells during the summer months, extracting groundwater extensively without the necessary permissions.
Additionally, the petition claims that the company excessively withdraws water from the Ib River rather than making proper use of its rainwater harvesting systems.
According to the petitioner, this practice could disrupt the river’s natural flow and negatively influence the water needs of nearby communities.
Another issue raised pertains to the company’s responsibilities under Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER).
The petition states that approximately Rs 15 crore allocated for CER initiatives for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years remains unspent.
In response to the allegations, the NGT bench, which includes Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi along with expert members A Senthil Vel and Ishwar Singh, ordered a fact-finding investigation.
A joint committee has been formed, which includes the Member Secretary of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the Jharsuguda District Collector.
This committee will visit the site to carry out an independent evaluation in the presence of the petitioner and representatives from the industrial unit.
The committee has been instructed to provide its report within one month. Following the findings, the relevant authorities will take necessary legal actions.
The Jharsuguda Collector has been appointed as the lead agency to oversee this process.
The NGT issued its order on August 10, with the details released to the public on August 18.
The claims made in the petition are still to be verified, and the joint committee’s results are anticipated to clarify the situation.
