Date | July 06, 2017:

Coal mining companies along with power major Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) operating in the State would be heading to set up Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP) to check effluents coming into the Damodar River. The assurance in this regard has come from the Center.

Following a meeting between Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal and Cabinet Minister from Jharkhand Saryu Roy on Tuesday in Delhi the agreement has been reached and directions issued.

“Officials of Power Ministry present in the meeting apprised that the scheme setting up STP at the colonies of Chandrapura and Bokaro thermal power plants has been approved. With this CCL and BCCL have also been told to set up STP in their areas so that urban pollutants can be treated before going into the river,” said Roy.

He also said that the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CINFR) had been appointed for conducting credible assessment of the status of Damodar River. “Due to the efforts of the Damodar Bachao Movement continuing from 2004 against the big polluters in the State, the river, which was once among the six most polluted rivers of the world, has been cleaned considerably. But this has to be verified by a third party and CINFR has been assigned with the job. The report would certify whether and up to what extent the river has become pollution free,” added the Minister.

In the meeting, Roy, in order to make the river completely free from effluents, urged Piyush Goyal to direct coal and power companies such as CCL, BCCL and DVC to take necessary steps.

“There are over a dozen colonies of these companies that generate urban waste and untreated water discharges flowing directly into the river. These are the biggest contributors of Damodar pollution. I requested him to direct the companies to set up treatment plants at their level to which he passed the direction to the Department officials present over there,” said the Minister.

(Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/)