Vedanta Fly Ash Dispute: Day by day, Vedanta Company is getting embroiled in various controversies. Now a big controversy has started with Vedanta Jharsuguda company’s arbitrary ash dumping issue. Starting from the local residents to political leaders have started protesting. Odisha Political Party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) held a press conference at its regional office regarding this dispute and targeted the BJP government.
The leader of the BJD, Mrs. Lekhashree Samantasinghar, has given proof of how the state BJP government is treating the Vedanta company. In particular, Revenue Minister of Odisha Suresh Pujari’s sympathy on Vedanta company has been criticized. She asked for what interest the minister did such an illegal act.
Ms. Samantasinghar has shown two letters in this press conference. In a letter, the state government has given permission to the Vedanta Company to dump the ashes in the pit. The letter was issued to Vedanta Company by the BJP government on 12th July 2024. In this letter state govt has allowed Vedanta Company to dump ashes at Lakhanpur Block Area in Jharsuguda District or elsewhere. After that, Company started dumping ash in different places of that area. Then there was a strong protest by the local people. Burying the mine shafts with ash would destroy the environment, they alleged.
However, the state government withdrew it again on November 4 after strong protests by the local people. The State Pollution Control Board has written the letter to stop the burial of ashes for now. Mrs. Samantasinghar presented the letter in the press conference. She said, “When the Minister was MP, he was against such arbitrary actions of Vedanta Company.” But now, when he became the Minister, Vedanta allowed to dispose of the ashes.
He also said that a meeting was held in Jharsuguda regarding the management of the ash dumping. Where the Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari chaired the meeting. Though the ash management is not the Revenue Department subject, for what interest Mr Pujari conducted that meeting. Mrs. Samantasinghar questioned.
