Jamshedpur : Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, (JSPCB) is gearing up to study the pollution level in major industrial clusters of Jharkhand including Jamshedpur.

According to information the board with an aim to make authentic studies in advance about emissions coming from industries based on coal, iron ore and others related is inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from agencies like Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR). The qualifying agency would study the emission level of Jamshedpur, along with Bokaro, and Chandil of Singhbhum.

“Industrial pollution has turned out to be a severe problem causing health disorders and also leading to accidents as the roads turn slippery after the coal dust, iron ore and urea spread like a thin sheet covering the road. No sprinkling of water regularly leads to the fine particles floating in the air adding to vehicular pollution,” said an official of JSPCB.

He said that several new industrial units based on coal washries, thermal plants, coke ovens, refractory plants, sponge iron, brick kilns and stone crushers have come up.

“Our study finds that towns like Jamshedpur, Bokaro Ramgrah are on margins with high Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) indices. It would be better if we make study as proactive measure, noted the official. In 2010 itself, clusters of Ramgarh, Seraikela, Jamshedpur and Badajamda had acquired tags under severely polluted categories.

Officials informed that the Board is going to invite firms to study pollution level on the banks of Damodar and Subarnarekha and the study about the towns would be tagged along with that as well. It would be equally beneficial for the investors planning to come in those places as they would know about the existing emission level in advance

Regional officer, JSPCB, RN Chowdhury, said that the department will keep a tab on the sponge iron plants as well as the thermal power plants so as to check the air and water pollution.

Meanwhile, the Adityapur Industrial Area residents, have been protesting against the increased pollution level in their area.

Sanjay Tulsiyan, the Seraikela-Kharsawan unit of the human rights body, International Human Rights Association (IHRA), under which the residents are agitating, declared that if the pollution level at Kandra and Gamharia does not abide the norms, then they would be compelled to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against the polluting unit.

It may be mentioned that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) team had visited the sponge-iron hub in response to a directive given by the Supreme Court.

One of the residents of Chandil said that the villagers are upset as the polluting units have damaged most of the corn-fields by releasing industrial affluent in the nallah and rivulets, thus making the waterbodies polluted. “We are not only bearing the brunt of the air-pollution, but are also facing the water-pollution which has damaged our corn-fields, causing the crops as well as cattles to be affected seriously,” he said.