Jharsuguda: The eastern zone bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) located in Kolkata has mandated a joint committee to look into concerns regarding pollution in the Ib River and illegal groundwater extraction by an industrial facility in Jharsuguda district.

A petition was submitted by Digambar Bhoi against Odisha Metallics Pvt Ltd, which operates in Marakuta within the Jharsuguda Sadar block.

The petitioner has accused the company of operating over 50 high-capacity borewells during the summer months, extracting groundwater extensively without the necessary permissions.

Additionally, it is claimed that the company is taking excessive amounts of water from the Ib River rather than effectively using its rainwater harvesting systems.

Bhoi argues that this practice could disrupt the river’s natural flow and negatively affect the water supply for local residents.

Another claim in the petition pertains to the company’s Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) commitments.

The petition alleges that approximately Rs 15 crore allocated for CER projects for the fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26 has not been utilized.

In response to these allegations, the NGT bench, which includes Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members A Senthil Vel and Ishwar Singh, has ordered a thorough investigation.

The tribunal has established a joint committee that includes the Member Secretary of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the Collector of Jharsuguda.

This committee will visit the site to conduct an independent evaluation, accompanied by the petitioner and representatives from the industrial unit.

The committee is required to submit its report within one month. Based on the findings, relevant authorities will take appropriate legal action.

The Jharsuguda Collector has been appointed as the nodal agency to oversee this process.

The NGT issued its order on August 10, with the details becoming public on August 18.

The allegations presented in the petition are yet to be validated, and the investigation’s outcomes are anticipated to clarify the situation.