Cuttack: A joint committee, constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to probe alleged chromium contamination from chromite mining by a private ferro alloys company in Jajpur district’s Sukinda valley, has found hexavalent chromium (a toxic form of chromium) in untreated run-off at levels more than 100 times the prescribed limit, which is 0.05 milligram/litre. The committee also found serious deficiencies in mine drainage and overburden dump management.According to the Central Ground Water Authority report, around 49 villages in the valley are currently affected by the chromium pollution.The findings were submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) east zone bench through an affidavit filed on Monday by Jajpur road circle’s deputy director of mines, Pabitra Kumar Sahoo. The three-member bench of judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members A Senthil Vel and Ishwar Singh took the affidavit, along with the report on record, and posted the matter for further hearing on Nov 2.Given the long-standing concern over chromium-bearing discharge into Damasala nullah, the committee recommended a centralised hexavalent treatment facility with tertiary treatment for the entire Sukinda valley.Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogenic substance.The probe followed a petition filed by Sukinda resident Kailash Chandra Nayak, based on which the tribunal had ordered the joint inspection on July 23. Nayak, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, had alleged that untreated mine run-off and waste from the private ferro alloys company’s chromite mines at Kaliapani are being discharged into Damsala nullah, which eventually flows into the Brahmani river, resulting in contamination of surface and groundwater with hexavalent chromium.The inspection team comprised officials of the regional office of the Union environment ministry, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Sukinda forest range and Jajpur district administration.The committee’s report highlighted untreated discharge into Damasala nullah as a major environmental concern. Although the mine’s effluent treatment plant (ETP) was operational, a separate drain carrying run-off from overburden dumps was found releasing untreated water into the nullah.The panel also said the prescribed standard operating procedure for treatment of hexavalent chromium was not being followed, citing inadequate retention time and improper simultaneous addition of chemicals. It recommended immediate ETP upgradation and imposition of environmental compensation under applicable CPCB guidelines.The panel also recommended health check-ups, free medicines and awareness programmes for villagers, besides regular supply of safe drinking water through tankers or pipelines.The committee found the mine lacked a systematic drainage network to channel stormwater from overburden dumps. The panel termed the situation a violation of mine safety requirements and a potential threat to mining operations.
